Let us introduce you to the jack of all trades. Chardonnay will grow almost anywhere, and almost any cellar can coax something interesting out of it. The same variety produces lean, oyster-shell Chablis and the broad, cool-climate Chardonnays now coming out of the Cape, and the grape doesn’t even notice it's the same one doing both. Our Chardonnay collection gathers the producers we think do it best, picked for what they say, not how loudly they say it.
Chardonnay's Roots, and Where It Wandered
The grape was born in Burgundy, a natural cross of Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc that has been growing in the Côte d'Or for centuries. It travels well, which is why almost every wine country with the right climate plants it now. The wines change shape depending on the vineyard and the winemaker.
The Chardonnay in Our Cellar
Burgundy
Burgundy sits at the heart of the collection. The grape first showed its aristocratic side here, on limestone slopes farmed by families going back generations. Burgundy is also where Chardonnay gets expensive, and there is a good reason for it. Old vines and small yields keep production tight, and demand has not slowed in decades. A few of the names you'll find:
- Bachelet-Monnot across Bourgogne, Maranges, and Puligny-Montrachet (et al)
- Benoît Moreau for Chassagne-Montrachet
- Domaine de Montille for Puligny-Montrachet and grand cru Chevalier-Montrachet (et al)
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Domaine de Villaine for Rully premier crus
Chablis
Chablis sits a few hours north of the Côte d'Or, and the wines reflect it. Cooler and tighter, with an almost saline edge that comes from the Kimmeridgian soils. Our Chablis selection includes Domaine Vincent Dauvissat and Domaine François Raveneau on allocation, alongside Roland Lavantureux working across the appellation.
The Jura
The Jura makes Chardonnay that does not behave like Chardonnay elsewhere. Domaine du Pélican leads here, with textured, savoury wines that often carry a slight oxidative thread. They are an acquired taste, and an easy one to acquire.
Champagne
Champagne is Chardonnay's loud cousin. Blanc de Blancs, the style made entirely from Chardonnay, gives you the grape's precision with bubbles attached. The chalk soils of the Côte des Blancs run through everything, lending a fine, mineral spine to the wines.
Italy
Italy plays a smaller part in the collection, with Chardonnays from Friuli, Piedmont, and a single bottling from Tuscany. These tend toward textured, food-friendly styles.
South Africa
South Africa is the local chapter of our Chardonnay collection. Cool-climate sites in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, with pockets in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, are producing some of the best Chardonnays in the country. The producers we work with:
- Newton Johnson Vineyards for Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay with restraint and ripe fruit
- Restless River for granite-grown, single-vineyard Chardonnay in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
- BLANKbottle for single-vineyard work out of Stellenbosch
- Colmant for Cap Classique made from Chardonnay in Franschhoek
What the Cellar Decides
A lot of Chardonnay's personality is decided in the cellar. The biggest single decision is whether to use oak, and how much.
- Stainless steel fermentation keeps the wine fresh and crisp, leading with green apple and citrus, often a hint of lime.
- Oak fermentation and ageing add weight and texture, with subtle spice and butterscotch.
- Malolactic fermentation softens the acidity and adds a creamy mouthfeel.
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Lees stirring builds depth, lending a richer, more textured wine.
Pairing Chardonnay at the Table
That range of styles is also why Chardonnay pairs with so much:
- Lean, unoaked styles with green apple and citrus character work well with seafood and lighter fare.
- Riper expressions with stone fruit and tropical notes handle poultry and richer fish.
- Oak-influenced wines with butterscotch and a creamy texture come into their own with creamy dishes and butter-based sauces.
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Sparkling Chardonnay, the Blanc de Blancs end of the collection, makes a fine aperitif.
One Grape, Many Voices
Jack of all trades, master of plenty. Chardonnay shifts shape across every region in our collection, and each producer we work with shows a different side of it.
Shop our Chardonnay collection to find your favourites.