Chardonnay
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2026
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted chicken with herbs, grilled salmon with lemon-butter sauce, or creamy pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hawke's Bay, located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, is the historic cradle of the country's wine industry, with vines first planted by Marist missionaries in 1851. While Marlborough is famous for Sauvignon Blanc, Hawke's Bay is the undisputed spiritual home of premium New Zealand Chardonnay. Southbank Estate harnesses this exceptional terroir, characterized by warm, sunny days, cooling sea breezes, and diverse alluvial soils. Their Chardonnay is crafted to showcase the region's classic style: a harmonious balance of ripe stone fruits, such as peach and nectarine, layered with citrus brightness. Utilizing traditional winemaking techniques, including partial malolactic fermentation and judicious oak aging, the wine achieves a textured, creamy mouthfeel complemented by a fine, flinty minerality that reflects the ancient river terraces of the bay.
🍾 About the Producer
Southbank Estate is a contemporary New Zealand wine label curated under the Foley Family Wines portfolio, crafted to showcase the vibrant and expressive character of the country's celebrated terroirs. Sourcing primarily from the sun-drenched, cool-climate river valleys of Marlborough as well as Hawke's Bay, the estate emphasizes clean, fruit-forward expressions balanced with lively natural acidity. Through modern, precision-oriented vinification, the winemaking team focuses on aromatic intensity, purity, and crisp refreshment. The brand is renowned for its benchmark Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, dynamic Sauvignon Blanc Rosé, and approachable Chardonnay, each capturing the hallmark freshness of New Zealand winemaking.