Ok, so you probably hear this debate before. It’s not a new one and it’s only going to get stronger as the year goes on. I couldn’t help myself and add my bit… so hear it is…. This newsletter will be all about
CHARDONNAY!
You remember that beautiful wine that you use to drink. But somewhere along the line you were enticed into the world of Sauvignon Blanc. Claiming “ I don’t like Chardonnay!” Well let me remind you what’s so great about Chardonnays.
Chardonnay is the great iconic wine of Australia. It’s the most recognized wine variety and what Australian Wine and it’s history is built on. If you look at Mt Barker , we were the first to make unwooded Chardonnay at Plantagenet wines. So Mt Barker can claim Unwooded Chardonnay as one of it’s own. In 2001 Galafrey won a gold medal , raising their profile as being a great producer of Unwooded Chardonnay. In 2003 when I came on board Galafrey was making and selling out of 1000 cases of Unwooded Chardonnay. We couldn’t keep up or find enough fruit. But know I’d be lucky to sell 64 dozen. Why?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Ok, so a neighbour of our ( no names need mentioning) made heaps of Unwooded Chardonnay and flooded the market. You had it everywhere. At the local pub, restaurant and you probably brought 13 to the dozen at the local liquor stores and quaff copious amounts at BBQs. I get it– wine is like food . If you ate chicken every night you’d get sick of it. And as a nation we got sick of always drinking unwooded Chardonnay. And what about that new trend New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Now our market is flooded with NZ Sauv Blanc and in time I’m sure people will get sick of that too. But here’s some reason to relook at your love of Chardonnay over the New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs.
First buy Australian made products and keep your money in the country. And No New Zealand is not Australian made. Remember they’re the buggers we like to bet at cricket!!
By nature Sauvignon Blanc can be high in acid hence lots of wineries compensate by adding residual sugar. This broadens the wine making it more appealing to the palate. Chardonnay by nature has lower acid making it more pleasing to the palate, add to that, flavours such as white peaches, melons, apricots, stoned fruits, vanillian,creaminess,
FLAVOUR! FLAVOUR! FLAVOUR!
Sauvignon Blans are cat’s pee, asparagus, green apples, gooseberries, passion fruit, pineapple juice, crisp acidity
FRUIT BOMB! FRUIT BOMB! FRUIT BOMB!
And did you know a majority of sauvignon Blanc vines are young 5-10yrs and highly irrigated. Compare that with our 32 yrs old dry Grown chardonnay and it’s easy to see where the flavour comes from.
So give Chardonnay another go, stand up to your friends and say…. Your supporting the local wine industry and buying Chardonnay. Look at our February Newsletter and consider buying some great wine at a great price. We’ve got Plenty of Chardonnay and theirs is nothing wrong with it other than the perception that “ I don’t like Chardonnay’s anymore”.
Be Brave, give it a second chance.