The Witches Berry Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2025
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken, creamy seafood pasta, grilled pork chops
✨ Technical Specifications
Named after a weed that grows wild in the McLaren Vale vineyards—Solanum nigrum, or black nightshade, whose small black berries were locally dubbed 'witches' berries' by children—this Chardonnay captures the whimsical spirit and rich terroir of d'Arenberg. The grapes are sourced from cool-climate sites in Adelaide Hills and the flatter, warmer plains of McLaren Vale, providing a beautiful balance of vibrant acidity and rich, ripe fruit. Traditionally crafted, the juice is gently pressed and fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks and seasoned French oak barriques. A portion of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, adding a subtle, creamy texture and complexity to the palate without overshadowing the bright, primary fruit flavors of white peach, nectarine, and citrus.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1912 by Joseph Osborn, d'Arenberg stands as an iconic pillar of McLaren Vale viticulture, stewarded today by fourth-generation chief winemaker Chester Osborn. The estate spans undulating coastal landscapes influenced by the moderating maritime winds of the Gulf St Vincent, resting upon complex, ancient geologies ranging from calcareous Terra Rossa to sandy loam and weathered limestone. Viticulture is rigorous and certified organic and biodynamic across all estate-owned and leased vineyards. While renowned for formidable Rhone-style reds, d'Arenberg's white winemaking upholds identical artisanal rigor: gentle whole-bunch basket pressing ensures minimal phenolics and purity of expression. From the racy, textural The Money Spider Roussanne and crisp The Dry Dam Riesling to the lusciously layered botrytised expressions The Noble Semillon and The Noble Botryotinia Fuckeliana, the wines epitomize balance, crystalline minerality, and vibrant natural acidity.
🍇 Grapes
Chardonnay
🍷 ABV
13.5% - 14%