Chardonnay is one of the most popular white wines in the world and definitely, one of the most universally loved. Finding a Chardonnay in the shop is like meeting an old friend, and it is always a reliable choice. However, as we will discover in this article, this wine can also have incredible depth and variety.
While varietals such as Pinot Noir are sensitive to the terroir that they are grown in, Chardonnay wine is influenced more by the wine-makers methods. That makes it a fascinating grape for blind tasting (particularly in the case of New World Chardonnay), as each bottle offers a different spin.
What is Considered New World in wine?
When we talk about the New World in wine, we essentially mean wine produced in any country outside of Europe and the ancient wine-making regions of Georgia or the Middle East.
The New World countries that you’ll see in stores most often are Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Argentina, Chile and South Africa.
Israel is an in-between sort of place because although it has an ancient history of wine-making, the modern Israeli wine industry has only taken shape recently. The country is still developing its style, and Israeli wines can be novel and refreshing, so for those reasons, we will consider it as part of the New World for this article.
FAQ’s About New World Chardonnay Wine
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What is a New World Chardonnay?
A New World Chardonnay is Chardonnay produced in any country where the tradition of wine-growing was imported from Europe. Chardonnay is originally from the Burgundy region of France but is such a versatile grape that it has spread all over the continent, and beyond, to New World regions.
California is arguably the most famous New World Chardonnay region, but you can also find stunning examples of the wine in Washington, South Africa, South America, and Australasia. -
What's the difference between New World and Old World Wine?
It is often said that New World wines exhibit riper-tasting fruit and higher alcohol levels than Old World regions. There’s a simple reason for this: New World regions are, generally speaking, hotter than the Old World, so grapes can ripen faster.
Another interesting distinction is that Old World regions put more of an emphasis on terroir - connecting their brand to their home. You will often see Italian or French wines named after the vineyard they came from, or the wider region. In general, New World regions are more likely to pick and choose from different locations and promote a brand that is not as connected to a specific terroir.
Regarding Chardonnay, Old World versions (and particularly those from Burgundy) can be refined, oaky and contain concentrated fruit flavours. A stereotypical New World wine shows riper fruit flavours and a round mouthfeel.
Perception vs Reality
However, most of these are just generalisations. They help to make decisions in a blind tasting or for food pairing, but shouldn’t be considered as hard and fast rules. In reality, there can be a wide variety of nuances between wine regions, and many New World regions are comparable to the Old World in terms of quality and terroir. Puglia in Italy, for example, can be just as hot as regions of Australia, and parts of California’s coast are as cool as Burgundy.
There is, however, a tangible link between all of the ripe, classically "New World" flavours of Chardonnay from California, Australia and New Zealand. In 1957, a clone of Chardonnay was exported from California to the small town of Gingin in Western Australia. It became known as “the Gingin clone”. It did particularly well in the region of Margaret Valley, and also spread to New Zealand in 1971. The clone produces excellent Chardonnay, with intense flavours, and it may explain some of the similarities that people notice between wines from different New World regions.
Best New World Chardonnays for 2024 - Quality, Taste, Reveal
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2020
This is a Chardonnay from a producer that helped to put Napa Valley on the world wine map. It has classic flavours of stone fruits, green apple and citrus, with wonderful lifting acidity. It is also relatively full-bodied and shows hints of malolactic fermentation without being too buttery. It is bright, delicious and distinctly Californian.
Back in 1976, a Chardonnay wine from Chateau Montelena was entered into the Judgement of Paris wine competition. Pitted against a variety of Burgundy Chardonnay’s, the wine placed first, turning the wine world on its head and establishing a premise that New World wines could be equally good as Old World. Chateau Montelena maintains that level of quality today. You can drink this wine with a lot of friends because it has a generous profile that will appeal to any wine enjoyer.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay 2022
California is a big place and contains many styles of Chardonnay wine. This one is sourced from vineyards in Carneros, Napa County. It shows generous, ripe notes of stone fruit, tropical fruit and citrus, along with definite floral hints. It has a rich, creamy mouthfeel, which is balanced wonderfully by an acidic bite. On the finish, you can discover ripe and slightly sweet fruit notes, which are unmistakably Californian.
Rombauer Vineyards have been producing Chardonnay in California since 1982, so they have pretty much perfected the craft. Chardonnay is particularly sensitive to wine-making methods, and this one is made in typical Californian style. It was fermented and aged in oak barrels, with the lees stirred every fortnight, giving it an extra creamy mouthfeel. This is a great wine to have with food, thanks to its elevated acidity and punchy fruit notes. It will be beautiful with seafood, shellfish or chicken.
El Enemigo Chardonnay 2021
Argentina contains some of the world’s most extreme terroirs and most innovative wine-makers, leading to some truly distinctive Chardonnay wines. This one has a relatively reserved nose and does most of its talking in the mouth. The citrus fruit notes are strong, and it has a definite florality and most notably, a saline edge.
The most exciting thing about this wine is its high acidity. It was made by El Enemigo, a prestigious family winery who don’t shy away from high-elevation vineyards. The grapes for this were grown at 1500 metres above sea level, allowing the grapes to retain a bright acidity. While Chardonnay is influenced more by the wine-makers hand, this is one example where the extreme terroir certainly comes into effect. It’s a distinctly Argentinian Chardonnay, perfect for enjoying on a summer’s evening, thanks to its refreshing, lively profile.
Domaine du Castel C Blanc du Castel 2022
Israeli wines are slightly tricky to categorise, and cannot truly be called New World or Old World. Israel has a rich wine-making history (Vinis Vitifera is believed to have originated from the nearby Caucasus region), but the country’s wine industry is a recent development. This example contains the potent alcohol levels that are typical of New World wines, as well as bright acidity. It has prominent notes of white-fleshed fruit, such as pear, apple and peach. You can also discover nutty elements and a delightfully creamy mouthfeel, obtained from oak-ageing.
This wine is a fantastic full-bodied representation of Israeli Chardonnay, produced by Domaine du Castel. They released their first wine in 1995, and although their vineyards have very small yields, it allows for higher-quality wines. This would be a great wine to enjoy with a Mediterranean platter, including hummus and pitta bread, on a fine summer's day.
Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2022
When picturing New Zealand's vineyards, it’s easy to imagine crashing waves and the stunning scenery that the country is famous for. This wine is pretty much a perfect reflection of that image. It is delightfully fresh, with clean elegant fruits. However, on the palate, it shows that classic Chardonnay body. It’s big and round, with a wiry acidity that brings a wonderfully refined feel to the mouth. It’s definitely imitating the French style, but the nearby ocean brings a certain aromatic side that cannot be ignored.
This wine is a great example of how New World Chardonnay can reflect the grape's Burgundy origins while bringing something new to the table. There is no sacrifice in quality either - this is one of the highest-rated Chardonnay’s that New Zealand has to offer. Kumeu River is a family winery northwest of Auckland, that has developed a great reputation. This wine is a crowd-pleaser, with its fresh, buttery and slightly tropical profile, so it’s perfect for any occasion.
Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2021
Something about Australia brings out the very best of the Chardonnay grape. This wine is from Margaret Valley, made from 100% Gingin clone Chardonnay. For that reason, it shares some characteristics with the best Chardonnays of California, but as we already know, the wine-makers touch is hugely important with this grape. This wine is full of nuance. You’ll discover an ample body, with powerful fruit flavours. These slowly simmer down into concentrated notes of pure lemon and citrus freshness. There is a slight yeast influence too, as this wine spent 9 months ageing on the lees.
This highly-rated wine is produced by Vasse Felix, one of the very first wineries in Margaret Valley. It typifies the Australian style, with its big body and bold fruits. It is also deeply refreshing and would be fantastic on a hot summer's day, served alongside some grilled fish.
These six wines are perfect examples of how nuanced New World wines can be. This is particularly true for the Chardonnay grape, as every wine-maker has a slightly different approach.
Hopefully, this article has made the differences (or lack of them) between New and Old World wines more clear. Whichever Chardonnay route you decide to go down, if you stick to these names, it will be impossible to go wrong.
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