Chardonnay is one of, if not the, most diverse grape varieties in the world. Pigeonholing it because of a couple of bottles is understandable, but if all dogs were English Mastiffs and all cars were Reliant Robins, we’d have far fewer dog owners and motorists!
What makes chardonnay particularly special is its remarkable knack for conveying the nuances of where it’s grown and how it’s made. As Society buyer Freddy Bulmer puts it, the grape ‘isn’t a blank canvas, rather it’s the window through which we can see the vineyard, and where the panes are the vision of the winemaker. It is perhaps the perfect grape when it comes to reflecting Mother Nature and human intervention in equal measure. No two chardonnays taste quite the same and the possibilities for uniqueness are infinite. This versatility, pliability and potential for finesse cements it as one of the world’s greatest fine wine grapes.’
Chardonnay is the window through which we can see the vineyard, and where the panes are the vision of the winemaker.Freddy Bulmer
With so many styles available, there’s bound to be one out there for you. But how to find it? Our latest chardonnay selection groups them together in a four-category ‘style file’, which we’ll look at below.
Crystalline and linear chardonnays
Try these if you like: brisk whites high in acidity, like dry riesling or sauvignon blanc.
Less is sometimes more! Our first chardonnay style grouping rests its quality on its subtlety: these wines are taut, mineral, minimalist expressions that don’t need to shout to be heard. Often, decanting them for a little while before enjoying can rid them of some of their shyness and bring their complexity to the fore.
Arguably the leading place to find these wines today is in Chile’s cool Limarí Valley. Located close to the ocean, the cloudy mornings reduce the intensity of the sun on the grapes. Combined with the soils, high in calcium carbonate, you get chardonnay with tingling freshness and an ability to respond to oak in a way that rounds out the palate, rather than contributing oak flavour. For a great-value example from the pioneer of the region, check out our exclusive Concha y Toro Corte Marcelo Limarí Chardonnay.
This style doesn’t need to be confined to cooler climates, however. As the name suggests, Vignerons Ardéchois’ Chardonnay les Gravettes comes from the southern Ardèche, where the summers are long and hot. This wine achieves its crisp and moreishly fresh style through a combination of the stony, sandy soils and – crucially – picking early to preserve its zippy character.
Dr. Edge Tasmania Chardonnay 2023
The Society's Exhibition Saint-Aubin Blanc 2022
Kutch Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2022
Neudorf Tiritiri Nelson Chardonnay 2022
The Society's Exhibition Chablis 2023
The Society's Exhibition Tasmanian Chardonnay 2022
Domaine Jacques Saumaize, Saint-Véran En Crêches 2023
Ponzi Vineyards Laurelwood District Chardonnay 2021
Fruity and refreshing chardonnays
Try these if you like: popular fruity whites like Gavi, albariño or chenin blanc.
If it’s lovely, bright fruit and crowd-pleasing freshness that you enjoy, this is the category to pay attention to. Some might use oak, but generally for texture, not flavour.
You’ll find some of the most-loved wines in our entire range here, and a fair few of our benchmark own-label wines, like our bestselling Society's White Burgundy and the fantastic-value The Society's Australian Chardonnay. With prices held on our own-label wines this year, this popular pair is riper than ever for exploring. Speaking of riper…
The Society's Australian Chardonnay 2024
Domaine Gonon, Mâcon La Roche Vineuse 2023
Kumeu Village Chardonnay 2024
The Society's White Burgundy 2023
Côtes du Jura Chardonnay Trémoulette, Domaine des Carlines 2020
Bulletin Place Australian Chardonnay 2024
The Society's French Chardonnay 2024
Indulgent and balanced chardonnays
Try these if you like: dry, food-friendly whites like Alsace pinot blanc or white Bordeaux.
We now move into more overt, satisfying, food-friendly territory, often with a more noticeable oak influence, but staying balanced. A great example at a price that won’t break the bank can be found in the fine, precise but broad and spot-hitting Grove Mill Chardonnay from Marlborough in New Zealand. A satisfying synergy of green apples and oatmeal, it’s an exciting find from a talented team.
Many a classic white Burgundy can be found in this ballpark, too; while our Society-label wine in the previous section doesn’t use oak, wines like Château de Beauregard’s Pouilly-Fuissé Premier Cru Les Reisses show how deftly oak influence can be balanced with melony freshness, resulting in a sense of controlled power.
Grove Mill Marlborough Chardonnay 2023
Jean-Philippe Fichet, Meursault 2021
Bleasdale Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2023
Kumeu River Estate Auckland Chardonnay 2023
The Society's Exhibition Margaret River Chardonnay 2022
South by South West Yallingup Margaret River Chardonnay 2023
Zephyr 6 Marlborough Chardonnay 2022
The Society's Exhibition Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2021
Schug Carneros Chardonnay 2022
Xanadu Fusion Western Australian Chardonnay 2022
Richer and riper chardonnays
Try these if you like: generous, even lavish, white wines such as white Rhône.
Finally, we reach the wines that show the glossier, broader side of chardonnay; altogether bigger wines, built for the table and wearing their oak proudly but judiciously.
California is an especially happy hunting ground for these spot-hitting styles, with Clay Creek Vineyards California Chardonnay representing a particularly smart anyday option, with generous vanilla oak aplenty but offset nicely by the fresh tropical-fruit notes that come from the cooler Clarksburg area. For a special-occasion showstopper, look to Hanzell Vineyards Sonoma County Chardonnay. This producer is a pioneer of California fine wine, and their chardonnay is incredibly complex, its broad structure full of nuance and complexity, showing the elegance this style is capable of.
We hope this has given you some inspiration to explore, or revisit, the many and varied joys of chardonnay. You can find the full list of chardonnays by style here. To learn more, take a look at our ultimate guide to chardonnay.
Spoke 'Amped' Marlborough Chardonnay 2022
The Society's Exhibition Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2023
A Fistful of Schist Reserve Chardonnay, Swartland 2024
Rustenberg Chardonnay, Stellenbosch 2023
Tether Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022
Hanzell Vineyards Sonoma County Chardonnay 2019
Greywacke Marlborough Chardonnay 2022
