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Pink Chardonnay is a rare, pink-skinned mutation of the Chardonnay grape, not a rosé made by briefly macerating red grapes. A recent VinePair report describes small plantings in France and California and says Champagne has added the variety to its list of permitted grapes, though production remains limited.
Pink Chardonnay, a rare pink-skinned mutation of the Chardonnay grape, is drawing attention from a small group of winemakers, according to a VinePair report. The grape is distinct from rosé wine made with red grapes, and its addition to Champagne’s permitted-variety list could give producers in the region another option, although plantings and production remain very limited.
Pink Chardonnay, also called Chardonnay Rose, is genetically a mutation of the familiar white grape, rather than a separate rosé-making method. The source report says the berries have rosy skins and the wines are generally similar to Chardonnay, with somewhat lower acidity. Winemakers quoted by VinePair describe the grape as firmer and denser than typical Chardonnay.
In France’s Jura region, producer Stéphane Tissot says he found about 30 bunches in an old vineyard he bought in 2004. He selected vines from those bunches and planted nearly one hectare, later bottling the grape as a single-variety wine. Tissot estimates his cuvée, Rose Massale, yields about 2,000 to 4,000 bottles a year.
California producer Rajat Parr grows Pink Chardonnay for Phelan Farm on the San Luis Obispo Coast. He told VinePair it grows much like regular Chardonnay but needs a cool climate: the grapes must reach pink skin color while retaining acidity. Parr estimates his production at 20 to 50 cases per vintage, most of which he sells through a mailing list. The report identifies his bottling as the first produced in the United States.
A New Option for Champagne Growers
The grape’s inclusion on Champagne’s permitted-variety list gives the mutation recognition beyond its small group of existing enthusiasts. Permission does not mean Champagne producers have widely planted it or begun making single-variety bottlings; the report says producers have not yet broadly adopted it. But the change could make experimentation possible for growers interested in diversifying their vineyards or exploring the grape’s characteristics.
For wine drinkers, the immediate impact is more modest: bottles are rare, and the reported production figures underline how difficult they may be to find. Restaurant beverage director Tira Johnson told VinePair that she offers single-variety examples at two New York restaurants and sees them as a way to introduce Burgundy and Jura drinkers to something unfamiliar without moving far from Chardonnay’s profile.
Any broader presence will depend on decisions in vineyards, not just on formal permission. Tissot’s expansion began with selecting and replanting a small number of vines. Other growers would need to make similar choices and assess whether local conditions suit the grape.
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From Jura Vines to California
Chardonnay is widely planted, with the source report citing more than 520,000 acres worldwide. Its wines can vary substantially by climate and winemaking, from rich and buttery to fresh and crisp. Pink Chardonnay remains unusual by comparison: the report describes only a handful of winemakers working with it and fewer making single-variety wines.
The report says the mutation is believed to have first appeared in Burgundy in the early 1900s, but does not provide a specific historical record for that account. Its recent attention is linked in part to the increased interest in Jura wines and producers such as Tissot, who have cultivated old vines and experimental varieties. The grape’s pink skin is its most visible difference; the source describes its other characteristics as broadly close to those of Chardonnay.
Pink Chardonnay’s spread resembles that of other color mutations, such as Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, in one practical respect: its future depends on growers propagating and planting it. That process is slow and selective, which helps explain why a grape can be formally permitted in a region yet remain scarce in vineyards and on wine lists.
““I bought an old vineyard in 2004, and in the middle of it there were around 30 bunches of Chardonnay Rose.””
— Stéphane Tissot, Jura winemaker
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How Far Will Plantings Spread?
The report does not give a total acreage, a complete count of producers, or a detailed list of where Pink Chardonnay is planted. Its estimates of annual output come from Tissot and Parr and apply to their own wines, not to global production. The grape therefore remains difficult to quantify beyond the examples cited.
It is also unclear how many Champagne growers will plant the mutation following its addition to the region’s permitted varieties. Johnson told VinePair she could imagine experimental producers making single-variety bottlings, but said she did not know of any Champagne producers doing so at the time of the report. That is an expectation, not confirmation of planned plantings or future releases.
The source does not specify the date of Champagne’s decision or detail the rules governing its use. Nor does it establish whether the grape’s reported differences in acidity and texture hold across all vineyards and winemaking styles. Those points may become clearer if more growers plant it and more wines reach consumers.
Champagne permitted grape varieties
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Growers Will Shape Its Future
The next step is likely to be decided in vineyards: growers can choose whether to select Pink Chardonnay vines and plant them in suitable conditions. In the near term, the report points to small-scale production from Tissot in the Jura and Parr in California, rather than a broad wave of releases.
Champagne producers may also test the newly permitted variety, but the source identifies no confirmed planting schedule, producer announcement, or planned bottling. Readers should treat predictions about wider use as possibilities, not settled plans. Availability will depend on whether producers propagate the mutation, how their vines perform, and whether they choose to bottle the resulting wine.
single-variety Pink Chardonnay bottle
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Key Questions
Is Pink Chardonnay the same as rosé wine?
No. Pink Chardonnay is made from a pink-skinned mutation of the Chardonnay grape. Rosé wine is generally made by allowing juice from red grapes brief contact with their skins; the name does not mean Pink Chardonnay is made by that method.
What does Pink Chardonnay taste like?
VinePair’s report describes it as broadly similar to standard Chardonnay, with slightly lower acidity. Winemaker Stéphane Tissot characterizes it as somewhat more rustic, firm, and dense. The report does not claim that every bottle will taste the same.
Where is Pink Chardonnay grown?
The report describes plantings in France’s Jura region and on California’s San Luis Obispo Coast. It says only a handful of winemakers work with the grape, so it is not widely available.
Does Champagne already produce Pink Chardonnay wines?
The report says Pink Chardonnay was added to Champagne’s list of permitted varieties, but it does not identify Champagne producers already making single-variety bottlings. Permission makes its use possible; it does not establish that growers have planted it or that wines are on sale.
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