Winemaker Notes
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Covering a long strip of southeastern coastline in South Australia, the Limestone Coast growing region has a moderately cool climate and includes the subregions of Coonawarra, Mount Benson, Mount Gambier, Padthaway, Robe and Wrattonbully.
Its warm northern and inland areas are recognized for high quality, full-bodied Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The much cooler Mount Gambier, to the extreme south, is well-suited to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.