DNA profiling has proved that Chardonnay is a cross of an old, nearly extinct variety called Gouais Blanc and a member of the Pinot family. Chardonnay and many other classic varieties can be traced back to this cross of Pinot and Gouais Blanc. The Gouais Blanc grape originated in Croatia and probably arrived in France with the Romans. There is a village called Chardonnay in Mâconnais in the southern portion of France's Burgundy region. They recently celebrated their thousandth anniversary and the name comes from 'cardonnacum' that is known as the 'place full of thistles'. Chardonnay most likely originated here and was then spread throughout France by the Cistercian monks. The earliest recorded reference to Chardonnay occurs in 1330.