Chardonnay has long been referred to as the white wine for red wine drinkers, with its complex fruity, buttery and zesty notes and full-bodied mouthfeel. The dry white wine can be light and fresh with citrus flavours, and range all the way to juicy stone fruit characters, and rich ripe fruits like rockmelon.

Cool climate chardonnay from areas like Marlborough will tend towards lighter and fresher flavours, while warmer climate chardonnays produced in places like Hawke’s Bay and Gisbourne will tend to be richer and fuller.

If aged in oak, on the lees (a type of yeast fermentation) or malolactic fermented (where malic acid from crushed grapes converts to buttery-tasting lactic acid), you can find additional notes of oak, toast, brioche, biscuits, cream and butter. So if you like the sound of that, look for mention of those techniques on the bottle.

During the 1990s, plantings of this internationally fashionable variety exceeded those of every other grape, and according to nzwine.com today top quality Chardonnay can be found in every region of New Zealand.

"Chardonnay is now the fourth most planted variety in New Zealand, and makes up around 6% of New Zealand wine production."

Let's uncork – or unscrew – a few of our favourites. 

Jules Taylor Marlborough Chardonnay

This complex single vineyard Marlborough chardonnay is French oak, lees and malolactic aged, so you’ll experience ripe pineapple, stonefruit, shortcake, toasted almond and jasmine aromas, with flavours of juicy stonefruits like white peach, buttery and creamy brioche notes, and a smooth, plump mouthfeel. RRP$22.99

Matawhero Gisborne SV Chardonnay

A classic warm climate Gisborne chardonnay, this beauty has aromas of ripe melon, peach, butterscotch and fig, backed up by the taste of rich, ripe fruits such as peach, plus a heavenly creaminess, and lingering bright finish. RRP$22.99

Mud House Marlborough Chardonnay

An elegant Marlborough chardonnay, this pale gold drop has aromas of citrus, stonefruit and biscuit, followed up with flavours of melon and freshly cut apple with a crisp, spicy finish. Partial lees aging and malolactic fermentation give this wine a full-bodied mouthfeel. RRP$14.99

Houghton Margaret River Chardonnay

This beauty from Western Australia has aromas of toasted cashew, subtle charred oak, and flavours of lemon citrus, peach, vanilla, spice, and oak char from French oak maturation, plus toasted notes from lees aging. RRP$17.99

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Pask Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay

A textured Hawke’s Bay chardonnay with delicious aromas of white stonefruit and ripe citrus, plus nutty hits of oak. A great option for those looking for a lighter chardonnay, it’s medium bodied with nice, fresh acidity. RRP$22.99