Bargains, benchmarks and serious quality, from $10 to $100.
We’ve banged on about chardonnay so many times that it’s pretty clear we’re big fans. It helps that this hardy white variety grows just about everywhere and can be made into a range of styles spanning lean and acid-driven to rich and buttery and everything in between. Factors like region, climate, picking times and winemaking methods will always influence a final wine, but this is especially true with chardonnay. That means there’s a pretty exciting spectrum of styles out there, so if you haven’t already embraced this great white, it’s absolutely worth exploring the options.
To help you do just that, we’ve pulled together some serious standouts across a huge array of styles, regions and prices. Expect flavours that stretch from bright citrus and crisp apple to ripe stone fruit, rich melon, nutty cashew and more. Most wines in this selection are Australian, but you’ll also find others from New Zealand, France, the US and beyond. And while chardonnay’s food-match options are endless, a few particularly great pairings to keep top of mind are grilled chicken, fresh seafood and creamy pastas (we love it with carbonara).
Starting at well under $20 and maxing out at $100, the following 50 chardonnays offer something for everyone. As always, each bottle’s label suggests where the style might lie, but, if in doubt, be sure to ask the staff in-store. They know the range inside out and might just point you to your new favourite white wine.
