How to serve
a Chablis in
Place the bottle in the refrigerator for about two hours. Serve a simple Chablis or Petit Chablis at around 8 to 10 degrees; let a premier cru or grand cru warm slightly, to around 10 to 12 degrees, otherwise the aroma remains closed.
Cut around the capsule below the raised ring on the neck and wipe the rim of the bottle clean. Place the spiral in the center of the cork and turn it straight down until just before the end, then pull the cork out in one smooth motion.
Decanting is usually unnecessary. With a young grand cru or premier cru that still smells closed, fifteen minutes in a decanter can help, but with a regular Chablis you mainly lose freshness. Instead, place the bottle in a cooler with water and ice.
Pour until the glass is about one-third full. In a more spacious bowl, that is still a generous base, and you need the space above it for the aroma. Because there is little in the glass, the wine stays cool until the last sip.
What did you think of this guide?
One click on a star is enough. If you’d like to add something, we’ll review it first before it appears here.
Save this page
Send this page to your own email so you have the information at hand when you’re ready to serve. You’ll also receive a €5 discount code when you spend €50, for the glasses that go with it.
The story
Chablis lies in Yonne, the northernmost part of Burgundy, well removed from the rest of the region. Only one grape is permitted: Chardonnay. The soil consists of limestone and marl from the Kimmeridgian layer, containing fossilized oyster shells; this very rock is cited as the reason the wine tastes so salty and taut. The climate is cool, the grapes ripen slowly and retain their acidity, and oak plays a minor role or none at all. As a result, Chablis tastes different from Chardonnay from warmer regions, even though it is the same grape.
The right glass
Chablis can be served in a larger glass than a light white wine, because it has more body than its fresh flavor might suggest. A Burgundy glass with a rounded bowl or a more spacious white wine glass gives it room to breathe without the wine warming up too quickly, especially with a premier cru. Below, we have selected two more spacious white wine glasses; genuine rounded Burgundy models can be found among the large wine glasses. If the bottle stays on the table, a wine cooler helps maintain the temperature.
Luigi Bormioli Grandioso Wine Glass 45 cl Chardonnay (6 pieces)
Schott Zwiesel Vinos White Wine Glass 46 cl (4 pieces)
Both sets together € 80,90.
The right tools
For a chablis, besides the glass, you mainly need a corkscrew and a wine cooler, and sometimes a decanter for a young premier cru. The bar tools below only come in handy when the wine goes into a spritz: a jigger for measuring and a zester for the citrus twist. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find everything in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glassware set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 79,85.
What do you pour alongside it?
Chablis often opens the table and is then followed by other drinks. These are the wines served alongside a meal, from a glass of crémant beforehand to champagne for a festive moment. On each drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails it works in, and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
The appellation has four levels. Petit Chablis comes from the higher-lying parcels around the area and is the lightest and simplest. Chablis accounts for most of the harvest and is the style most people know. Chablis Premier Cru comes from designated slopes and has more body and length. Chablis Grand Cru is the smallest category: a single slope above the village, divided into seven named parcels. Higher up in this range, the wine more often benefits from a few years of aging. Want to read more? View all drinks and brands.
Serving tip
Oysters and shellfish with Chablis are almost a cliché, but it does make sense: the high acidity and salty character do for an oyster what a slice of lemon does. It also pairs well with shrimp, white fish, goat cheese and a salad with little fat in the dressing. Serve regular Chablis at 8 to 10 degrees and Premier Cru or Grand Cru slightly less chilled, around 10 to 12.
Good to know
Why Chablis does not taste buttery
Chardonnay has no pronounced flavor of its own and takes on much from the climate and cellar. In warm regions and with new oak, it produces a full, creamy wine with notes of vanilla and butter. In Chablis, the climate is cool, the grapes ripen slowly, and little or no new oak is used, often only stainless steel. What remains is citrus, green apple and crisp acidity.
The limestone soil with oyster shells
The subsoil of Chablis consists of limestone and marl from the Kimmeridgian layer, a rock full of fossilized shells from small oysters. You can simply pick them up from the ground in the vineyards. This soil is credited with giving the wine its salty, almost chalky character. Petit Chablis comes largely from a younger, harder layer of limestone above it, producing a lighter wine.
The four levels of the appellation
Petit Chablis, Chablis, Chablis Premier Cru and Chablis Grand Cru. The difference lies in the location of the parcels: the better the slope faces the sun and the more favorable the soil, the higher the level. Grand Cru is limited to a single slope above the village, divided into seven named parcels. The level is written out in full on the label.
Spring night frosts
Chablis lies so far north that frost in April and May can affect the young shoots, causing a substantial portion of the harvest to be lost. Among other measures, winegrowers combat this by spraying the vines with water during frost, creating a thin layer of ice around them that keeps the bud inside just above freezing, and by placing candles or heaters between the rows. This explains why the quantity of Chablis varies greatly from year to year.
How much alcohol it contains and how long it lasts
Chablis contains roughly 12 to 13 percent alcohol; the percentage is stated on the label. You usually drink a Petit Chablis or regular Chablis within a few years. A Premier Cru or Grand Cru often benefits from longer aging and can last for years. Once opened, you can keep a bottle tasting good for another two to three days with a stopper in the refrigerator.
Frequently asked questions
Which grape is Chablis made from?
Made from Chardonnay, and nothing else. Chablis is an appellation in northern Burgundy where only Chardonnay is permitted. The fact that the wine tastes so different from most Chardonnay is due to the cool climate, limestone soil and limited use of oak.
What is the difference between Petit Chablis, Chablis, Premier Cru and Grand Cru?
They are four levels within the same area, determined by the location of the plots. Petit Chablis is the lightest, Chablis is the backbone of the region, Premier Cru comes from designated slopes with more body, and Grand Cru comes from a single slope above the village that is divided into seven named plots.
At what temperature and in which glass should you serve Chablis?
Serve a regular Chablis at 8 to 10 degrees, and a Premier Cru or Grand Cru slightly less chilled, at around 10 to 12 degrees. Use a Burgundy glass with a rounded bowl or a more spacious white wine glass, so the wine gets some air without warming up too quickly.
Why do oysters pair so well with Chablis?
The wine has high acidity and a salty, mineral character, which does for an oyster roughly what a slice of lemon does: it lifts the flavor without overpowering it. The same applies to other shellfish, shrimp and white fish.
Also delicious
Everything for your bar,
to one address
Glasses in hospitality-grade quality, supplied per set. Order today, delivered quickly.
Shop the glasses →