It's time to celebrate another successful year in the resurgence of the grape variety that dominated the New Zealand wine industry in the 1980s. Those are the days our winemakers won acclaim with barrel-aged wines that were bold and buttery, and while those still exist, today’s Chardonnays are more refined, fruity and fresh with a stand out complexity that’s uniquely New Zealand.
International Chardonnay Day is celebrated on the Thursday before the last Monday in May every year and is gathering momentum in many wine producing countries around the world.
During the 1990s, plantings of this internationally fashionable variety exceeded those of every other grape, and 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. While Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne grow the bulk of New Zealand’s Chardonnay, the grape does thrive in every region of New Zealand from north to south.
Known as ‘the winemaker’s grape’ due to its relatively neutral fruit profile and adaptable nature, Chardonnay lends itself to nearly all winemaking tricks of the trade.
In the Gisborne region, visitors will discover a lot more than quality wine and food to make the journey worthwhile. A warm sunny climate and relaxed coastal lifestyle give Gisborne a special vibe and experiencing the rich and authentic local Māori culture is a must during any visit to Eastland.
That versatility makes it a perfect canvas for viticulturists and winemakers to craft masterpieces resulting in unique, distinctive wines which strongly reflect New Zealand’s distinctive terroir and the huge diversity within the different regions.
New Zealand’s Chardonnay styles range from fruit-driven and unoaked, to luscious examples with complexity, elegance, and a touch of oak. So if you haven't had a glass of Chardonnay in a while, why don't you raise a glass this International Chardonnay Day?
Did you know?
-
Chardonnay takes its name from the village of Chardonnay in the Mâcon region of Burgundy.
-
Chardonnay is the most widely distributed white grape in the world, and is the world's most popular white wine. It's virtually planted in every wine region in the world.
-
Got bubbles? So does Chardonnay. Chardonnay is one of the three main grapes used in Sparkling wine, along with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
-
28,000 tonnes of Chardonnay is produced in New Zealand, and makes up around 6% of New Zealand wine production.
-
A young or unoaked Chardonnay is fabulous with seafood. Mature New Zealand Chardonnays are richer and more complex and complement savoury dishes such as chicken, veal and rabbit.
-
Chardonnay shows its best served between 12ºC and 14ºC.
