Cornelius Airds Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted chicken, creamy mushroom risotto, grilled lobster with butter
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Cornelius range represents the pinnacle of Scotchmans Hill's winemaking, showcasing exceptional single-vineyard expressions from the cool-climate Bellarine Peninsula. The Airds Chardonnay is sourced from select low-yielding blocks, where the maritime influence of Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay moderates temperatures, allowing for a long, slow ripening period. This terroir, characterized by black volcanic soils over limestone, imparts a distinct flinty minerality to the wine. Crafted using traditional techniques, the fruit is gently pressed and fermented with wild yeasts in French oak barriques, followed by regular lees stirring to build a complex, textured palate that balances vibrant citrus and stone fruit flavors with elegant, integrated oak.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1982 by David and Vivienne Browne, Scotchmans Hill is a pioneering estate located on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. The winery is highly regarded for its cool-climate maritime terroir, characterized by black volcanic soils and moderating ocean breezes that shape its elegant, mineral-driven wines. Under the guidance of long-standing chief winemaker Robin Brockett, the estate focuses on traditional, sustainable viticulture to produce exceptional, estate-grown Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, alongside their premium Cornelius range. Located at 190 Scotchmans Road, 3222 Drysdale, Victoria, Australia, the winery's official website is https://www.scotchmans.com.au.