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Bumper weekend wine guide: Chardonnay rules

Michael Cooper
By
Wine writer·New Zealand Listener·
10 mins to read


Rich, complex and finely textured, chardonnay is the foundation of most of New Zealand’s finest dry whites. Spread through all the wine regions, the grapes ripen mid-season harbouring high levels of natural sugar – hence the sturdy, full-bodied character of its wine.

Chardonnay’s fruit flavours range from the vibrant apple and lemon characters found in cool, southern regions to the lusher stonefruit – peach and apricot – flavours of North Island grapes. Styles produced range from fresh, “fruit-driven” wines (with

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