Keltern Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release, though exceptional vintages can continue to develop complexity for up to 12 years.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Pan-seared scallops with lemon-butter sauce, roasted chicken with wild mushrooms, or creamy pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Sourced from a single, legendary site in the Bridge Pa Triangle of Hawke's Bay, the Villa Maria Keltern Chardonnay is widely regarded as one of New Zealand's premier white wines. Established on an ancient riverbed where silt loam blankets deep stony gravels, the Keltern Vineyard benefits from a unique microclimate that tempers the warm Hawke's Bay sun, preserving a vibrant, linear acidity. This 100% Chardonnay is crafted using traditional wild yeast fermentation in French oak barriques, followed by extended maturation on yeast lees with regular stirring. The result is a masterful expression of terroir, balancing intense stone fruit and citrus characters with a distinctive flinty minerality and a creamy, beautifully textured palate.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1961 by Sir George Fistonich in Auckland, Villa Maria has grown from a visionary one-man operation into one of New Zealand's most acclaimed and globally recognized wineries. The estate meticulously sources exceptional fruit from premier winegrowing regions across the country, including Marlborough, Hawke's Bay, and Gisborne, to craft expressive wines that reflect their unique regional terroirs. Renowned for its pioneering spirit, Villa Maria was a trailblazer in adopting screwcap closures to preserve freshness and remains deeply committed to sustainable and organic viticulture. Their diverse portfolio is celebrated for vibrant Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc, elegant single-vineyard Pinot Noirs like Taylors Pass and Seddon, and rich, structured Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blends from Hawke's Bay.