Clonakilla is an Australian winery located in the Canberra wine region of Murrumbateman, New South Wales. The winery was founded by Dr. John Kirk AM, an Irish biochemist who immigrated to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1968 to work as a research scientist at the CSIRO. The first vintage from the region was produced in 1976, and Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier has since become one of the most iconic Australian wines. The Shiraz Viognier blend was first introduced by Clonakilla in 1992, inspired by Tim Kirk's visit to the Rhône Valley in France. The wine is a blend of Shiraz and Viognier grapes, with the Viognier adding a floral and aromatic complexity to the wine. Clonakilla's Shiraz Viognier has received numerous accolades, including being named Wine of the Year by James Halliday in 2010 and receiving a perfect score from Robert Parker in 2015. In addition to Shiraz Viognier, Clonakilla produces other red and white wines, including Riesling, Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery is known for its commitment to sustainable and organic farming practices and has received numerous awards for its environmental stewardship. Clonakilla is a winery with a rich history and a reputation for producing some of the best wines in Australia. This Chardonnay is sourced from two of the Johansen family’s vineyards in Tumbarumba, sitting between 700 and 720 metres above sea level. From the cool 2022 vintage, a fine-boned, citrus-edged Chardonnay with subtle floral and almond meal notes. Elegant and bright with the classic Tumbarumba mineral acid backbone.

Bubb+Pooley Wines is a venture born out of passion and expertise. Justin Bubb and Anna Pooley, both with over 20 years of experience in winemaking across the globe, have finally decided to release their own wines. After working with premium vineyards throughout Tasmania, they are now collaborating with exceptional vineyards and people across the state to produce wines that connect with their philosophy of making wine from the ground up. Their use of concrete vessels is not an experiment but a traditional style of vessel that has been used for centuries in the Old World. Each shape has been chosen specifically to enhance the texture of the varietal within them and these beautiful, handcrafted vessels will last lifetimes. At Bubb+Pooley Wines, sustainability threads through and underpins their approach to everything they do. All of their decisions are focused on how they can do things better in order to minimize their impact on the environment. Their wines are raw, expressive and speak of place. The Coal River Valley wine region is located in Clarence, Tasmania, just northeast of Hobart. It was named after the first village that discovered coal in the area. The majority of grapes are grown on northern slopes and the region produces high-quality Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Sauvignon blanc. The cool climate alluvial and sandy soils with a high concentration of clay sandstone provide a unique terroir for the wines. The Bubb + Pooley Chardonnay 2023 presents a luminous golden hue, offering a glimpse into the wine's inherent vibrancy and allure. This Chardonnay entices the senses with a captivating bouquet of ripe tropical fruits, including pineapple, mango,\ and hints of juicy peach, complemented by delicate notes of vanilla, toasted oak, and a subtle touch of hazelnut. The aroma exudes a harmonious blend of fruit-driven opulence and nuanced oak influences, creating a sensory delight. Upon tasting, the Chardonnay reveals a beautifully balanced interplay of flavors, showcasing the influence of its unique fermentation and maturation process. The wine's texture is luxuriously smooth, offering a delightful fusion of ripe citrus, tropical fruit and a subtle hint of baked apple, all underpinned by a delicate touch of creamy oak. The palate is marked by a delightful tension, transparency and energy, reflecting the wine's evolution and promise. The finish is enduring and invigorating, leaving a lasting impression of bright acidity, a touch of minerality and a lingering citrus zest, culminating in a deeply satisfying conclusion that hints at the wine's potential for further development. The Bubb + Pooley Chardonnay 2023 is a testament to the winemaking artistry and the unique approach to fermentation and maturation. With its tension, transparency, and energy, this wine embodies a promise of evolution and transformation, inviting anticipation and appreciation for the journey ahead. A wine that exudes both complexity and potential, it is poised to captivate and evolve, offering a compelling expression of Chardonnay that is as exciting as it is alluring.

Is this Australia's best Chardonnay? If not then it shares the rarified air reserved for only the finest examples. Rich yet restrained, with mineral notes, cashew and almond meal, amazing fruit complexity and wonderful length...why not try the benchmark?

Sourced and grown in the Adelaide Hills, this is a fine example of how good Chardonnay from this region can be. This is a blend of 3 different cultivars of the Chardonnay grape. Bunch pressed and in part wild fermented. Partial malolactic fermentation imparts further complexity. A beautifully textured and complex wine.

A vibrant and lively wine, it's a great choice when looking for a Marlborough white. It has flavours of ripe passionfruit that go perfectly alongside a white meat or seafood dish, or on its own on a sunny day.

'Tupelo' is Sam Connew's Alsatian-inspired blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling and some beautiful Gewurztraminer. This is a very well-constructed version of this classic aromatic blend, with good acidity and a touch of grip to offset the natural fruit sweetness of these expressive varieties. It's delicious, interesting and good value, the perfect wine to tuck into with a light meal. Sam's wines are only made in small quantities so get in quick! "This can be among Australia's very finest white wines. Period... A wine of profundity and real potential, although I'd be enjoying this across the mid-term given the aromatic quotient to the blend. Pinot gris, pinot blanc, riesling and gewurztraminer."- 96 pts, Ned Goodwin MW (JamesSuckling.com) "Think citrus, yellow plum, white flowers, soft spice and crushed stone and you're on the track. Just a joy to drink."- 95 pts, Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

At the foot of the majestic Schlossberg hill, in a setting of vines and roses, the Domaine Weinbach "wine stream", named after the small stream that crosses it, was built in 1612 by the Capuchin monks. Sold as national property during the French Revolution, the Estate was acquired in 1898 by the Faller brothers who passed it on to their son and nephew Théo. A great figure in the Alsatian vineyard and ardent promoter of its recognition as an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, Théo Faller works for the quality of Alsace wines and the development of their incomparable terroirs and grape varieties. In love with his property, he develops it, enlarges it and embellishes it. From 1979, his wife Colette and his daughters Catherine and Laurence demonstrated the same passion for the great wines of Alsace and the same unfailing attachment to quality. Since 2016, Catherine Faller has been running the Domaine with her sons Eddy and Théo. Primarily responsible for the Weinbach we know today, Catherine Faller’s mother, Colette Faller, was one of the legends of Alsatian wine. Sadly, Madame Faller passed away in early 2015 and, like her daughter Laurence and husband Théo before her, is now immortalised by a wine bearing her name. This comes from 50-60-year-old vines in the Bonnes Terres terroir, lower down on the Schlossberg slope, where the soils are deeper and sandier. The fruit here also tends to be picked a touch later. Accordingly, the register of flavours here (running from white flowers through to tropical fruits and citrus fruit zest) is more intense, yet the wine balances its power with great freshness and verve. Even though it comes entirely from Schlossberg, some of the vines fall outside the Grand Cru boundary, which is why it cannot be labelled as a Grand Cru. The domaine has now applied for Premier Cru status. But no matter, it certainly offers Grand Cru quality in the glass. Raised for 14 months in old oak casks, it’s statuesque and full of life, packed with the joie de vivre of citrus and stone fruits, salty minerals and a flicker of white flowers. The texture is generous yet stony and compact, and the palate glows with energy and tension with tingling rocky minerality and a nip of bite on the lingering, mouth-watering finish. Biodynamic.