New Zealand Chardonnay has never been better. For years it played second fiddle to Sauvignon Blanc on the world stage, but the country's best producers have quietly been making Chardonnays that rival anything from Burgundy or the Yarra Valley. Rich and barrel-fermented or lean and mineral - there's a style for every palate.
Here's our curated guide to the bottles worth knowing.
Hawkes Bay - The Heartland of NZ Chardonnay
Hawkes Bay is New Zealand's spiritual home of Chardonnay. The warm days, cool nights, and free-draining soils produce Chardonnays with real richness and complexity - the kind that reward time in the glass and food on the table.
- Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2024 - The best-value entry point to NZ Chardonnay. Rich, generous, and immediately satisfying - Tony Bish is the country's most dedicated Chardonnay specialist and this is where to start.
- Tony Bish Skeetfield Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2024 - Single vineyard, serious Chardonnay. Structured, complex, and built to age. A step up for those ready to go deeper.
- Beach House Hawkes Bay The Track Chardonnay 2024 - Beach House's flagship. Single vineyard, barrel-fermented, and built for the table. One of Hawkes Bay's finest.
- Beach House Hawkes Bay Selection Chardonnay 2024 - The approachable, everyday expression from Beach House. Fresh, clean, and great value.
- Ash Ridge Hawkes Bay Premium Chardonnay 2024 - A family-owned estate with real site character. Oak-influenced, complex, and very fairly priced.
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Little X Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2023 - Lower intervention, higher expression. Bright and refreshing - a Chardonnay for people who think they don't like Chardonnay.
Marlborough - Leaner, Crisper, More Mineral
Marlborough is better known for Sauvignon Blanc, but its cooler sites produce Chardonnays with a leaner, more mineral character - less about richness, more about precision and length.
- Astrolabe Marlborough Chardonnay 2024 - One of Marlborough's most respected producers. Crisp, focused, and beautifully made.
- Astrolabe Wrekin Chardonnay 2020 - Single vineyard, with real age on it. Complex, savoury, and drinking at its peak right now.
- Durvillea Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 - Fresh and approachable, with the clean Marlborough fruit character that makes it an easy crowd-pleaser.
Nelson & Central Otago - The Emerging Styles
Cooler climates that bring a freshness and tension the warmer regions can't replicate. Some of New Zealand's most exciting Chardonnays are coming from here.
- Blackenbrook Nelson Chardonnay 2024 - Nelson's standout Chardonnay. Bright, textural, and with a long, mineral finish.
- Doctor's Flat Central Otago Chardonnay 2024 - From one of Central Otago's most celebrated producers. Elegant, restrained, and built to age.
- The Boneline Sharkstone North Canterbury Chardonnay 2023 - North Canterbury's most distinctive Chardonnay. Savoury, textural, and unlike anything else in the range.
Want to Explore Before Committing to a Case?
Our producer Sampler Sixes are the perfect way to try a range of bottles first. The Tony Bish Sampler Six, Astrolabe Sampler Six, and Beach House Sampler Six are all great starting points for Chardonnay lovers.
What to Eat With NZ Chardonnay
The richer, barrel-fermented Hawkes Bay styles love roast chicken, creamy pasta, pan-fried fish, and soft cheeses. The leaner Marlborough and Central Otago expressions are brilliant with shellfish, sushi, goat's cheese, and lighter seafood dishes. As a rule - the richer the wine, the richer the food.
Whatever you choose, NZ Chardonnay is one of the great pleasures of the glass. Pour it properly chilled, let it open up, and enjoy.