Close Menu
News

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No