This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
All the medallists from the Global Chardonnay Masters 2023
Chardonnay’s chameleon-like character makes it a highly versatile grape variety and a barometer of current trends, as Patrick Schmitt MW discovers in this year’s Global Chardonnay Masters tasting.
For some in the wine business, Chardonnay is simply a grape variety, albeit one that’s planted more widely than any other. But for others, Chardonnay is an important barometer of taste. That’s because it can be used to make such markedly different styles of still white wine, according to what’s in vogue. At the moment, it’s powerfully flavoured and richly-textured Chardonnays that are demanded, at least at the more mainstream end of the market. This is not just evident in tastings, but also on retail shelves, where sub-£20 brands seem to shout their creamy, vanilla-tasting credentials.
In contrast, so-called ‘skinny’ Chardonnay – the light, acidic sort from the 2010s – seems to have fallen out of fashion with consumers, although this lightweight style was itself a reaction to buttery, oaky versions that dominated in the 1990s, and became unpopular in the 2000s. In other words, after a period of restraint, the pendulum has swung back to a new era of indulgence.
This was endorsed by this year’s Global Chardonnay Masters – up to a point. You see, the old-school style was evident in the wines priced between £10-£15, where ripe yellow fruit flavours were married to buttercream characters. But move to over £20, and this type of Chardonnay became rarer, and the wines seemed to get skinnier, encouraging one judge to say: “It seems the more you pay, the less you get.”
In short, the judges wondered whether at the top end of the Chardonnay pricing scale, winemakers were more focused on achieving critical acclaim, and imposing their own stylistic aspirations, rather than serving an increasing call from consumers for heavy whites, which tend to be deemed unsophisticated by ‘professionals’. Indeed, crafting a highpriced, broad-textured Chardonnay takes confidence, as fellow winemakers might see it as a step backwards. Pressure is being applied to modernise.
As a result, at the top end, sulphidic Chardonnay remains dominant, referred to by judge Jonathan Pedley MW as “the struck match/leesy/citric style”. But there was diversity among the fine wines and the entry-point samples too. Among the latter, there was creamy oak, but not sweetness. And within the pricier, lighter wines there were some appealing riper characters mingling with the grapefruit pith and cinders.
Pedley observed: “Over the years it has been easy to knock the relative neutrality of Chardonnay, but looking back through my notes, the following fruit descriptions appear: apple, pear, lemon, peach, melon, banana, mango and our fruit of the day – quince!”
Continuing, Pedley said: “Plenty of input from the cellar was on show as well: oak (vanilla, toast, etc), malolactic (butter, cream, etc) and lees (biscuit, struck match).”
In conclusion, he commented: “Good winemakers continue to be able to juggle these elements to make high-quality but subtly different Chardonnays around the world.”
As for the best examples, see the tables and tasting notes below, which draw attention to the most accomplished Chardonnays on the market today – be they inexpensive or pricy, as well as broad or skinny. db
Sparkling Chardonnay
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
£10-£15 | |||||
Bouchard Aîné & Fils | Brut de Chardonnay | Burgundy | France | NV | Silver |
Valdivieso | Centenario | Bío-Bío | Chile | 2015 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Fratelli Wines | JCB N°47 | Maharashtra | India | NV | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Cuvée Spéciale Blanc de Blancs | Champagne | France | NV | Gold |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Blanc de Blancs | Champagne | France | 2017 | Silver |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs | Champagne | France | 2015 | Silver |
£50-£70 | |||||
Champagne Abelé 1757 | Blanc de Blancs | Champagne | France | NV | Master |
£70-£100 | |||||
J García Carrión | Cava Chardonnay Gran Reserva | Cava | Spain | 2018 | Gold |
Unoaked Still Chardonnay
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Oxford Landing | Chardonnay | South Australia | Australia | 2023 | Silver |
Valdivieso | Winemaker Reserve | Casablanca | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Fratelli Wines | Chardonnay | Maharashtra | India | 2023 | Bronze |
Finca La Celia | La Celia Reserva Chardonnay | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Fleur du Cap | Essence du Cap Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2021 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Zonnebloem | Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2022 | Gold |
VSPT Wine Group | Leyda Reserva Chardonnay | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2023 | Gold |
Franschhoek Cellar | Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2023 | Gold |
Cantina di La-Vis | Chardonnay – Classici | Trentino | Italy | 2022 | Silver |
Viña del Nuevo Mundo | Las Niñas Ella Reserva Chardonnay | Leyda Valley | Chile | 2023 | Silver |
Seyfried Wein.Atelier | Morillon Oststeiermark | Vulkanland Steiermark | Austria | 2022 | Silver |
J García Carrión | Don Simón Nature Chardonnay | Murcia | Spain | NV | Bronze |
Bodegas Bianchi | Famiglia Bianchi | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Yedi Bilgeler | Anaxagoras | Denizli | Turkey | 2022 | Bronze |
J García Carrión | Opera Prima Chardonnay | Castilla-La Mancha | Spain | NV | Bronze |
J García Carrión | Translations Chardonnay | Murcia | Spain | NV | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Joel Gott Wines | Chardonnay | California | USA | 2022 | Silver |
£20-£30 | |||||
Viña Los Vascos | Cromas Chardonnay Gran Reserva | Colchagua Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
£30-£50 | |||||
Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery | Acero Chardonnay | Russian River | USA | 2021 | Gold |
Oaked Still Chardonnay
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
Under £10 | |||||
Jacob’s Creek | Reserve Chardonnay | Australia | Australia | 2022 | Gold |
De Bortoli Wines | Deen Chard Vat 7 | Riverina | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Barramundi Wines | Barramundi Chardonnay | SE Australia | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Crooked Mick Wines | Chardonnay | Murray Darling | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Barramundi Wines | Chardonnay Viognier | SE Australia | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Jacob’s Creek | Classic Chardonnay | Australia | Australia | 2022 | Bronze |
Crooked Mick Wines | Langhorne Creek Chardonnay | Langhorne Creek | Australia | 2021 | Bronze |
Sutter Home Wines | Chardonnay | California | USA | NV | Bronze |
Viña Santa Carolina | Carolina Reserva | Maule Valley | Chile | 2023 | Bronze |
Kenwood Vineyards | Discoveries Chardonnay | California | USA | 2022 | Bronze |
£10-£15 | |||||
Baileyana Winery | True Myth Chardonnay | California | USA | 2021 | Gold |
Valdivieso | Valley Selection | Casablanca | Chile | 2021 | Gold |
Marisco Vineyards | The Ned Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Gold |
Kavaklidere Saraplari | Egeo Chardonnay | Aegean | Turkey | 2022 | Gold |
Nederburg Wines | Nederburg Winemasters Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2022 | Gold |
Castillo de Aresan | Castillo de Aresan Terruño Chardonnay | Castilla-La Mancha | Spain | 2022 | Gold |
Marisco Vineyards | The King’s Legacy Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Regional Classic Tumbarumba Chardonnay | Tumbarumba | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | One Giant Leap Chardonnay | Clare Valley/ Limestone Coast | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Brancott Estate | Reserve Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
Three Thieves Wines | Three Thieves Chardonnay | California | USA | 2020 | Silver |
Kenwood Vineyards | Six Ridges Chardonnay | Russian River Valley | USA | 2020 | Silver |
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE Chardonnay Gran Reserva | Central Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Cavit | Bottega Vinai Chardonnay DOC | Trentino | Italy | 2022 | Silver |
Devil’s Corner | Chardonnay | Tasmania | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Domaine Bousquet | Bousquet Reserve Organic Chardonnay | Tupungato | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Stoneleigh | Latitude Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
Marisco Vineyards | Leefield Station Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Winemakers Selection Chardonnay | Riverina | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | Estate Chardonnay | Clare Valley/ Limestone Coast | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Arínzano | Hacienda de Arínzano Chardonnay | Navarra | Spain | 2021 | Bronze |
Los Helechos | Los Helechos Reserva | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Viña Luis Felipe Edwards | LFE Chardonnay Reserva | Maule Valley | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
Greasy Fingers | Greasy Fingers | South Australia | Australia | 2022 | Bronze |
De Bortoli Wines | Regional Reserve Chardonnay | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2021 | Bronze |
Seegut Lentsch | Burgenland Reserve Chardonnay Podersdorf-am-See | Burgenland | Austria | 2021 | Bronze |
Howard Park | Miamup Chardonnay | Margaret River | Australia | 2022 | Bronze |
Boschendal | 1685 Chardonnay | Cape Coast | South Africa | 2021 | Bronze |
£15-£20 | |||||
Concha y Toro | Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay | Limarí Valley | Chile | 2022 | Master |
Fleur du Cap | Unfiltered Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2022 | Gold |
Brancott Estate | Letter Series 0 Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Gold |
Viña Morandé | Morandé Black Series Chardonnay | Malleco | Chile | 2021 | Gold |
Valdivieso | Single Vineyard | Limarí Valley | Chile | 2022 | Gold |
Erzherzog Johann Weine | Vulkanland Steiermark DAC Chardonnay Ried Tieschener Königsberg | Vulkanland Steiermark | Austria | 2020 | Gold |
Howard Park | Heritage Chardonnay | Margaret River | Australia | 2020 | Gold |
Sutil Wines | Limited Release | Itata | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Estate Vineyard Chardonnay | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Argos Bagcilik | Nahita Dokya Chardonnay | Central Anatolia | Turkey | 2022 | Silver |
Orlando Wines | Hilary Chardonnay | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Durbanville Hills | Collectors Reserve The Cableway Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2022 | Silver |
Langmeil Winery | High Road Chardonnay | Eden Valley | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Alan Pierre | Montagny 1er Cru | Burgundy | France | 2022 | Silver |
Stoneleigh | Rapaura Series Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
Kavaklidere Saraplari | Côtes d’Avanos Chardonnay | Cappadocia | Turkey | 2022 | Silver |
Langmeil Winery | Spring Fever Chardonnay | Barossa Valley | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
£15-£20 (continued) | |||||
Seyfried Vein.Atelier | Morillon Ried Hohenberg | Vulkanland Steiermark | Austria | 2019 | Silver |
Los Helechos | Chardonnay | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Yedi Bilgeler | Anaxagoras | Denizli | Turkey | 2021 | Silver |
Cavit | Maso Toresella Chardonnay Trentino Superiore DOC Riserva | Trentino | Italy | 2021 | Silver |
Napa Cellars | Chardonnay | Napa Valley | USA | 2021 | Silver |
Seyfried Wein.Atelier | Morillon Ried Hohenberg | Vulkanland Steiermark | Austria | 2021 | Silver |
Los Helechos | Ensamblados Chardonnay | Uco Valley | Argentina | 2021 | Silver |
Baileyana Winery | Baileyana Chardonnay | Edna Valley | USA | 2021 | Silver |
Orlando Wines | Orlando Hilary Chardonnay | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
VyF Wines | VyF Wines Premium Chardonnay | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2022 | Bronze |
Viña Morandé | Vitis Única Chardonnay | Casablanca Valley | Chile | 2021 | Bronze |
£20-£30 | |||||
Devil’s Corner | Resolution Chardonnay | Tasmania | Australia | 2022 | Master |
Orlando Wines | Lyndale Chardonnay | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2022 | Master |
Orlando Wines | Lyndale Chardonnay | Adelaide Hills | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Voyager Estate | Coastal Chardonnay | Margaret River | Australia | 2022 | Gold |
Kendall-Jackson | Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay | California | USA | 2022 | Gold |
La Crema | Monterey Chardonnay | Monterey | USA | 2022 | Gold |
Paul Cluver Wines | Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2020 | Gold |
St Hugo | Eden Valley Chardonnay | Eden Valley | Australia | 2022 | Gold |
Paul Cluver Wines | Paul Cluver Estate Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2021 | Gold |
Santolin Wines | Santolin Family Reserve Chardonnay | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Krispel | Chardonnay Ried Kaargebirge DAC | Vulkanland Steiermark | Austria | 2018 | Silver |
Church Road | Grand Reserve Chardonnay | Hawke’s Bay | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
Haute-Serre | Albesco de Haute-Serre | Occitanie | France | 2020 | Silver |
Bodegas Viñedos Pascual Toso | Pascual Toso Alta Chardonnay | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Silver |
Wakefield/Taylors Wines | St Andrews Chardonnay | Clare Valley | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Kenwood Vineyards | Rugged Elements Green Valley Chardonnay | Russian River Valley | USA | 2021 | Silver |
The Coterie | Spoke ‘Amped’ Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Silver |
Ktima Gerovassiliou | Chardonnay | Epanomi | Greece | 2022 | Silver |
De Bortoli Wines | Single Vineyard A5 Chardonnay | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Fratelli Wines | J’Noon White | Maharashtra | India | 2022 | Silver |
Taken Wine Company | Taken Chardonnay | Napa Valley | USA | 2020 | Silver |
Mayfield Vineyard | Eighteen Fifteen | Orange | Australia | 2022 | Bronze |
Domaine Bousquet | Bousquet Gran Organic Chardonnay | Gualtallary | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Weingut Firmenich Steinberghof | Südsteiermark DAC Chardonnay Ried Steinberg | Südsteiermark | Austria | 2020 | Bronze |
£30-£50 | |||||
Vie di Romans | Vie di Romans | Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Italy | 2021 | Master |
Journey’s End | Destination Chardonnay | Stellenbosch | South Africa | 2022 | Master |
Giant Steps | Yarra Valley Chardonnay | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2022 | Master |
Marisco Vineyards | The Craft Series ‘The Pioneer’ Chardonnay | Marlborough | New Zealand | 2022 | Gold |
Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery | La Masia Chardonnay | Russian River Valley | USA | 2021 | Gold |
Church Road | 1 Chardonnay | Hawke’s Bay | New Zealand | 2022 | Gold |
Sandhi | Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay | Sta. Rita Hills | USA | 2021 | Gold |
Tapanappa Wines | Tiers Vineyard 1.5M Chardonnay | Piccadilly Valley | Australia | 2022 | Gold |
Hoosegg by Philip Shaw | Hoosegg Everything is Going According to Plan | Orange | Australia | 2019 | Gold |
Trefethen Family Vineyards | Chardonnay | Napa Valley | USA | 2021 | Gold |
Mulline Vintners | Sutherlands Creek Chardonnay | Victoria | Australia | 2021 | Gold |
Concha y Toro | Amelia Chardonnay | Limarí Valley | Chile | 2022 | Silver |
Weingut Bründlmayer | Niederösterreich Reserve Chardonnay Ried Langenloiser | Niederösterreich Steinberg | Austria | 2021 | Silver |
Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards | The Mira Chardonnay | Stellenbosch | South Africa | 2021 | Silver |
Santolin Wines | Gladysdale Chardonnay | Yarra Valley | Australia | 2020 | Silver |
Quattro Theory | Chardonnay | Napa Valley | USA | 2022 | Silver |
Tapanappa Wines | Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay | Piccadilly Valley | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Winery | Name of wine | Region | Country | Vint. | Medal |
£30-£50 (continued) | |||||
Voyager Estate | Chardonnay | Margaret River | Australia | 2021 | Silver |
Mulline Vintners | Portarlington Chardonnay | Victoria | Australia | 2022 | Silver |
Boschendal | Appellation Series Chardonnay | Elgin | South Africa | 2021 | Silver |
Bodegas Bianchi | Maria Carmen Chardonnay | Mendoza | Argentina | 2022 | Bronze |
Chamlija | Thracian Chardonnay | Strandja Mountains | Turkey | 2021 | Bronze |
£50-£70 | |||||
Capensis | Silene Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2020 | Master |
Arínzano | Pureza | Navarra | Spain | 2021 | Master |
Paul Cluver Wines | Seven Flags Chardonnay | Western Cape | South Africa | 2022 | Master |
Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards | The Single Tree Chardonnay | Stellenbosch | South Africa | 2020 | Gold |
Voyager Estate | MJW Chardonnay | Margaret River | Australia | 2020 | Gold |
Kenwood Vineyards | The Barn Chardonnay | Sonoma Coast | USA | 2021 | Silver |
Arínzano | Arínzano Armonía | Navarra | Spain | 2021 | Silver |
Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery | Russian River Chardonnay | Russian River Valley | USA | 2021 | Silver |
£70-£100 | |||||
Sta. Rita Hills | Sandhi ‘Romance’ Chardonnay | Sta. Rita Hills | USA | 2021 | Master |
Uva Mira Mountain Vineyards | Icon Chardonnay | Stellenbosch | South Africa | 2020 | Gold |
Ernest Vineyard | Joyce Vineyard Chardonnay | Sonoma Coast | USA | 2021 | Gold |
Hoosegg by Philip Shaw | Seven Heaven Chardonnay | Orange | Australia | 2018 | Gold |
Capensis | Capensis | Western Cape | South Africa | 2019 | Gold |
Arínzano | Gran Vino Blanco | Navarra | Spain | 2019 | Silver |
£100+ | |||||
Hudson Napa Valley | Seashell Chardonnay | Los Carneros | USA | 2021 | Master |
Arínzano | Arínzano Eternidad | Navarra | Spain | 2015-2016-2017-2018 | Silver |
About the competition
With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Global Chardonnay Masters provides a chance for your wines to star.
The 2023 competition was judged on 13 October at 42 Holborn in London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Chardonnay Master.
This report features the medal winners only. Please visit the Global Masters website for more information or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura.