Big, buttery and oaky in taste, Durvillea Chardonnay is the little sister to Astrolabe Chardonnay. It's made with grapes grown in two parts of Marlborough with 66% from the Awatere Valley and 35% from Wairau Valley. 

All grapes in this wine were hand picked then fermented with a combination of wild and cultured yeasts. A portion of barrel fermentation adds weight and structure to this incredibly accessibly priced wine. 

Its flavours are of cream, ripe grapefruit and softness. 

The story of Astrolabe

Diversity, history and family ownership are among the reasons to try the outstanding range of wines from Astrolabe, which was founded in 1996 in Marlborough by winemaker Simon Waghorn and his partner in life and wine, Jane. 

Simon has forged a reputation for being one of New Zealand's most respected producers of aromatic white wines after winning an almost embarrassingly long string of awards for his Sauvignon Blancs. He has also forged a name for adventurously diverse winemaking - he produces dry flinty whites from the most southern vineyard in Marlborough at Kekerengu on the coast about an hour's drive south of Blenheim. He is the only winemaker to produce wines from here. 

He is also one of the few in this country to make Albarino, Chenin Blanc and a consistently outstanding range of wines from the organically certified hillside sloping site that is the Wrekin Vineyard in Marlborough. 

The winery remains family owned and is now run by two generations, including Simon and Jane as well as their adult daughters. 

Beautiful Chardonnay with full bodied, creamy smooth flavours from the Kiwiw king of Chardonnay, Tony Bish, of the Urban Winery in Hawke's Bay. This beauty is made from 100% Mendoza clone Chardonnay grapes grown in two areas in Hawke's Bay; the Upper Dartmoor and Bay View. All of the grapes were hand harvested and 95% fermented in barrel with 5% in Tony's new French oak ovum. The wine was then matured for a year in 25% new Taransaud oak with regular lees stirring (aka batonnage) to enhance the creamy expression of barrel maturation. 

This wine is one of only two in New Zealand to make it onto the 2020 Top 100 Wine Discoveries by leading wine authority Robert Parker.

Northrow is named after the northernmost row of vines in a vineyard which sees the most sunshine throughout the day.  Highlighting the vibrant flavours that come from these long sunny days, the Gisborne Chardonnay showcases ripe stone fruits and melon notes, with a touch of buttery oak.

Vegan and Certified Organic

Hand made Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay with depth and delicious intensity of flavour; ripe peachy fruit flavours are balanced by fine crisp fresh acidity and complex notes of creamy texture and a savoury depth that comes through. Aromas of oatmeal, cedar and spice all add layers of flavour to this wine, which was made with grapes grown on three vineyards; 70% Kokako and Ohiti Valley and 30% from the Ascot Vineyard in Havelock North. All grapes in this wine were hand picked, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeasts, 100% malolactic fermentation followed by ageing in barrel on lees for eight months in French oak, 28% new. It was bottled unfined with a light filtration.

Kumeu River Wines is New Zealand's top Chardonnay producer and best known globally. 

The winery is in the West Auckland village of Kumeu where it began life as San Marino Wines in 1944 when Croatian immigrant couple, Mick and Katé Brajkovich, bought a small property with a vineyard on it. Their descendents now own and run Kumeu River Wines, which produces 250,000 bottles of wine annually from its owns 30 hectares of vineyards in Kumeu and from another 10 hectares, owned by local grape growers. 

This wine, Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay is the flagship white from the winery. It is made from  grapes grown on six different vineyard sites in Kumeu and is consistently one of New Zealand's greatest dry, full bodied whites with outstanding freshness and complexity.

This great white drinks well now and can also age well for up to 10 years, potentially longer. 

The first release of this special cuvee is from an exceptional Chardonnay parcel in the renowned Howell Family Vineyard.

Hints of orange peel and candied lime, flirt with cedar and toasted almond on the nose. On the palate the wine shows great power and presence on the attack, with a rich silky textured mid palate supported by a zesty acid finish, providing length , vitality and balance.

This wine will age extremely well over the next five-six years.

860 bottles made.

Crushed shell, specifically reminiscent of green mussels. While some might say oyster shell, it’s not quite that. Saline, yes. Sundried lime zest dances in the background. A reduction of coal dust, saffron, and Belgian spice promotes the essence of Craighall’s stones, tightening the parameters and focusing the power for length rather than width. Precise. Crème brûlée, lemon honey, and yellow peach ripple across the palate, while pure acidity flows like a swift stream, elongating the palate and experience. White florals, particularly alyssum, make a delightful appearance. A hint of macadamia graces the finish, complemented by a refreshing green crunch and phenolic notes like the delicate skin of a cucumber. A richness that is utterly moreish.

96pts – The Real Review
95pts – Wine Advocate

A single vineyard barrel aged Chardonnay from the alluvial soils of Hawke’s Bay.

Hand selected fruit with 12 months maturation in new and one year old French oak, the wine is beautifully textured, full bodied with butterscotch and spicy oak flavours.

Displaying mineral tones from the terroir, this wine has a delightful and very long finish.

Hawke's Bay winery Alpha Domus makes outstanding Chardonnay in a range of styles from sparkling to still and medium to full bodied, such as this big, dry, rich barrel fermented Chardonnay.

Nga Waka was established in Martinborough in 1988 and is a family-owned winegrower producing small volumes of fine Martinborough wine from estate-grown grapes.

The Home Block Chardonnay is Nga Waka's flagship white wine. It is 100% barrel fermented and goes through 100% malolactic fermentation, remaining in barrel for 12 months with lees stirring monthly.

The wine is a pale gold colour and is rich and complex with deep, intense spicy and mineral flavours underpinned by tight-grained French oak, barrel fermentation and the malolactic component.

Tasting Notes
Aromas of ripe peach abound, with subtle undertones of buttery oak and a refreshing citrus acid backbone, adding layers of complexity. A balance of fresh fruit, malolactic and oak influences have resulted in a full bodied wine with stone fruit flavours, buttery, nutty notes and Meyer lemon freshness.

Winemaker's Notes
100% fermented and aged in older French oak barrels, sur lie. 100% MLF. 10 months in barrel before being blended to tank, ready for bottling.


Food Match
Roast chicken & mushroom risotto
Roast Salmon with herby cous cous salad
Butternut Squash Cannelloni

Nautilus Chardonnay is one of Marlborough’s most age worthy white wines and a delicious drink right now, especially the 2019 which comes from a great vintage in this country’s largest wine region. The Nautilus winery was founded in 1985 by the Hill-Smith family in South Australia and continues in the same ownership. Long term winemaker Clive Jones has been key in the transformation in quality and perception in Marlborough Chardonnay over the past two decades, thanks to this dry, full bodied, smooth and creamy wine, which ages beautifully (for those with willpower) for up to a decade.

Hand harvested and lightly oaked Chardonnay from Martinborough with floral touches intermingling with pineapple, honey nougat, citrus and baked cheesecake on the nose. The palate is fresh with superb acidity and creamy spiced sweetness.