Chardonnay

700 to 800 metres above sea level, in the Piana degli Albanesi south of Palermo – where Sicily stops being what you expect it to be. Tenuta Ficuzza is located in the heart of an extensive nature reserve, with forests, Mediterranean scrub and vineyards woven into the landscape like a mosaic. Chardonnay has found a home here that makes it reminiscent of Burgundy – without copying it. Jalé comes from the historic single vineyard "del Ventaglio", named after its fan shape. The altitude creates temperature fluctuations that Chardonnay rarely gets on this island: slow ripening, cool fruit, natural tension. Hand-picked at the beginning of August, cold maceration, fermentation in old Liters oak barrels – no new wood to cover up, but silent integration. Six months sur lies, then bottled.

A Chardonnay with an origin profile and signature – typical of Jermann. The grapes come from the hilly areas of Friuli, where cool downslope winds and chalky soils ensure freshness, structure and aromatic clarity. Pale straw yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. On the nose, subtle but clear notes of Williams pear, yellow apple, citrus fruit, a hint of almond and floral accents. Dry, straightforward and finely structured on the palate, with fresh acidity, delicate creaminess and a pleasant, slightly salty finish. A fresh, stylish Chardonnay without heaviness, which impresses with a clear line, regional profile and plenty of typicity. SUPERIORE.DE

The vines, which are over 50 years old, are located outside the Chianti Classico appellation and were planted by Fabrizio Bianchi as a kind of "heart project" back in the 1970s. Inspired by the great white wines from Burgundy, it was initially fermented exclusively in wooden barrels. Since 2000, however, the proportion of grapes fermented in oak has steadily decreased, so that today almost 70% of the grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks, which gives it freshness and elegance. Fine fruit, barely perceptible wood. Fresh and medium-bodied on the palate, the Burgundian character and its beautiful structure and length only emerge gradually. A finesse-rich and fruit-accentuated Chardonnay that embodies its grape variety and terroir wonderfully and never comes across as heavy or overloaded. SUPERIORE.DE

Pure Chardonnay of remarkable depth: "Nèstri" Bianco comes from the best vineyards around Buttrio in the heart of the Colli Orientali and is vinified in strictly limited quantities. The calcareous marl soils, the temperate microclimate between the edge of the Alps and the Adriatic Sea and the careful ageing in small wood characterise a white wine that is as complex as it is unique. Brilliant golden yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. A multi-layered aroma on the nose: ripe apple, nectarine and citrus fruit, plus hints of vanilla, toasted brioche, fresh hazelnuts and a hint of chalk. Powerful and elegant at the same time on the palate, with a smooth texture, fine minerality and precise acidity. Maturation on the fine lees lends depth and length without masking the freshness.

The name Gaun takes us back to the 17th century, when the noble family of the same name owned the Löwengang estate – a tribute to the historical roots of Lageder's ancestral home. Since 1934, when Alois III planted the first Chardonnay vines in Margreid, this interpretation has been considered a pioneer for international grape varieties in South Tyrol. The chalky gravel soils around Margreid, Kurtatsch and Salurn, where Mediterranean influences meet Alpine coolness, produce grapes of exceptional minerality. During vinification, Lageder focusses on salinity and tension: part of the wine is fermented spontaneously with whole grapes, whereby tannins from the skins and stems accentuate the natural freshness.

A Chardonnay with Friulian soul: the combination of high altitudes, barren flysch soils and temperate climate gives this wine freshness, finesse and character. Light golden yellow in the glass with a greenish tinge. The bouquet is inviting and balanced: yellow apple, white flowers, lemon and a hint of exotic fruit - underpinned by delicate almond and a hint of vanilla, without ever appearing overloaded. On the palate, it is dry, harmonious and clearly contoured, with lively acidity and a fine melting texture. The ageing in stainless steel preserves precision and varietal typicity. A Chardonnay that moves stylistically between freshness and substance - elegant, straightforward and with a noticeable imprint of origin and winemaker's craft. SUPERIORE.DE

Pietrabianca offers a contrast between richness and freshness and seduces with a blend of white flowers, almond paste, wet stone and crushed red pears. Silky and supple, it caresses the palate with an elegant wave of ripe peach and nectarine. Lingers long, leaving a mineral and acidic tension as notes of candied lime fade. Not only is it stunning today, but it has a bright future. SUPERIORE.DE

Chardonnay doesn't really need an origin. The world drinks it everywhere, it adapts, it works. This is precisely its problem – and this is exactly where it so often fails. Those who grow it in the Aosta Valley, on granite moraine between 600 and 800 metres above sea level, with short summers, long winters and temperatures that drop to extremes at night, ask a different question: what happens to this variety when the mountain has the last word?

Cuvée Real epitomises the elegant signature of Antica Fratta and shows just how fine Franciacorta can be. It is based on Chardonnay and a small proportion of Pinot Nero from the gentle moraine hills of Lombardy. After gentle whole-cluster pressing, the first fermentation takes place partly in stainless steel and partly in small wooden barrels before the wine matures for at least 24 months on the fine lees in the bottle. Delicate straw yellow in the glass with a fine, persistent perlage. The bouquet opens with notes of fresh lemon, yellow apple, some white peach and a hint of roasted hazelnut. The palate is fresh and precise, with an elegant creaminess, fine citrus flavour and balanced structure. The finish is clear, mineral-accentuated and persistent. A stylish, versatile Franciacorta that shines both as an aperitif and as an accompaniment to fine cuisine – classic, precise and charming. SUPERIORE.DE

A timeless symbol of the region and a tribute to the origins of Franciacorta: '61 Extra Brut is a classic blend of around 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Nero. It is matured for at least 24 months on the fine lees, which gives it a clear structure, elegance and harmonious fruit density. It therefore stands for a modern, precise style that is also deeply rooted.

The name is derived from "Avenal", the Etruscan name of the area from which the grapes originate. It thus epitomises the ancient culture present in the San Felice area. Complex and persistent bouquet of citrus fruits, white flowers with clear notes of straw and acacia. The palate combines balanced freshness with a pleasant softness. This wonderful interpretation of Chardonnay with small amounts of Sauvgnon and Semilion goes perfectly with starters and light first courses, white meat and sushi. SUPERIORE.DE

The name is derived from ‘Avenal’, the Etruscan name for the area where the grapes come from. It thus embodies the ancient culture present in the San Felice area. A complex and lingering bouquet of citrus fruits and white flowers, with distinct notes of straw and acacia. On the palate, balanced freshness combines with a pleasant smoothness. This wonderful interpretation of Chardonnay, with small proportions of Sauvignon and Sémillon, pairs perfectly with starters and light first courses, white meat and sushi. SUPERIORE.DE

Terlan is a small village south of Bolzano – and one of Italy’s most exceptional white wine regions. The combination of porphyry rock, calcareous subsoil, marked temperature fluctuations between day and night, and the Alps, which shield the valley from cold Atlantic winds, creates a terroir that gives white wines a longevity unrivalled anywhere else in the world. Founded in 1893, the Cantina Terlan has brought this potential to life like no other in the region.

A white pioneer in Tuscany: in 1987, Avignonesi was the first winery in the region to create a barrique-aged white wine and named it after the stone lion in front of the palazzo in Montepulciano – symbolising wisdom and strength. Today, Virginie Saverys continues this tradition with biodynamic precision and vinifies the Chardonnay from Cortona using the pied-de-cuve method: 81% is matured in French barriques, 19% in cement barrels, in each case for at least five months on the fine lees.

The steep porphyry slopes at an altitude of up to 650 metres on the Ritten above Bolzano offer ideal conditions for vinifying this powerful yet elegant Chardonnay with outstanding balance, well-integrated acidity and excellent ageing potential. Straw yellow in colour with greenish inclusions. Pure exotic flavours of pineapple, mango and white peach on the nose, underpinned by a delicate vanilla note. Powerful on the palate, the well-integrated acidity keeps it fresh and mineral despite its power and complexity, right through to an almost infinitely long finish. A great Chardonnay from South Tyrol! SUPERIORE.DE

Fine traditional brut from the Lunelli family, who work tirelessly on the authenticity of their Trentino classics. A wide range of aromas and an elegant flavour with a good structure offer first-class enjoyment on many occasions. On the nose, crisp green apple, tangy lemon and a hint of toasted brioche. On the palate, citrus fruits harmonise with white peaches with a subtle hint of minerality. The bubbles are fine and persistent, the finish refreshing and clean. SUPERIORE.DE

Medium golden yellow in colour with bright reflections. The Chardonnay grapes come from selected plots in the Langhe, whose later harvest gives the wine aromatic depth and a fine melting flavour. In the cellar, the wine is carefully matured according to the Burgundian school: temperature-controlled fermentation, long maturation on the fine lees, a targeted proportion in wood to promote complexity and structure without overpowering the freshness.

Maximum was one of the first labels created by Giulio Ferrari at the beginning of the 20th century. A Blanc de Blancs with an unmistakable style that still stands for freshness and elegance today. This Trento DOC epitomises the perfect symbiosis between Chardonnay and the mountains of Trentino like no other Casa Ferrari sparkling wine. The grapes come exclusively from carefully selected Chardonnay vineyards on the slopes of the Trentino mountains between 300 and 700 metres above sea level. Facing south-east and south-west, the vines benefit from optimal sunshine and cool nights - ideal conditions for a Chardonnay with structure and finesse. The grapes are harvested by hand in the first half of September, when they have reached perfect aromatic ripeness. Gentle pressing is followed by Metodo Classico vinification with traditional bottle fermentation. The maximum matures on the fine lees for 24 months.

Now in its 30th vintage, it has long been an icon of modern Sicilian winemaking: Planeta’s Chardonnay combines the tradition of French grape varieties with the sun-drenched terroir of the south, producing one of Italy’s most distinctive white wines year after year. The grapes come from two different altitudes: Ulmo at 250 m and Maroccoli at 415 m above sea level. In the glass, it is a radiant golden yellow with slightly greenish highlights. The aroma is intense and refined: yellow tropical fruits, toasted almonds, citrus blossom, vanilla, wet stone and a hint of salty butter. On the palate, it is dense and full-bodied, with ripe fruit, a perfect balance between freshness and creaminess, subtle spice and a long, elegant finish. A cult wine that combines Mediterranean richness with Burgundian nobility. Ideal with lobster, fried fish, poultry in butter sauce, or on its own as a great white wine with real character. SUPERIORE.DE

Ciampagnis is a name, not an adjective. It refers to a single vineyard – nine hectares, brought to maturity by Gianfranco Gallo over decades, on those finely layered soils of sand, silt and gravel that give Chardonnay in the Isonzo Valley a tropical generosity that one would not expect at this latitude. What Burgundy achieves with depth and limestone, Ciampagnis achieves with richness and mineral lustre. Vinified according to the same principle as all the other whites of the house: anaerobic destemming, short cold maceration, fermentation at a controlled temperature, approx. seven months maturation on the yeasts in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation – freshness as a principle.

When Andrea Franchetti arrived on the northern slope of Mount Etna in 2000, he found an abandoned volcanic landscape – dilapidated vineyards, overgrown terraces, the gloom of a forgotten wine region. But he recognised the potential of these extreme altitudes. Passobianco, first vinified in 2007, is his white answer to the volcanic terroir: pure Chardonnay from the Contrada Guardiola, planted between 850 and 1,000 metres on steep terraces, where the powdery lava soil glistens black like the night. Fermented in steel tanks at cool temperatures, matured partly in concrete and partly in large wooden barrels – a vinification that preserves purity and creates complexity.

Chardonnay is considered a chameleon among grape varieties – adaptable, malleable, ready for any interpretation. But what happens if it is denied precisely this transformation? When the pomace is processed fresh and soft, fermentation takes place anaerobically in stainless steel, distillation is slow in Benito Nonino's copper steam stills – and then: no wood, no colouring, just rest in neutral steel? The result is crystalline clarity. Bright fruits unfold on the nose – apple, pear, a hint of freshly baked bread. The palate reveals the harmonious softness that characterises Chardonnay when it is given space rather than direction. The finish is gentle and lingering. Served at 12°C in a tulip glass, this grappa reveals the essence of the grape variety – unadulterated and self-confident. SUPERIORE.DE

Limited anniversary edition with a special label to mark the birthday of the icon of modern Sicilian winemaking: 30 years of Planeta Chardonnay – and to mark the anniversary, the label is on fire. Not literally, but almost: ‘On Fire’ is the title of the work by Claire Fontaine that adorns the 2024 vintage in a limited edition. The artist collective, founded in Paris in 2004 and based in Palermo since 2017, – whose work “Foreigners Everywhere” gave its name to the 2024 Venice Biennale – has transformed the flame emoji into a light sculpture: extracted from the digital realm, made physical, strikingly beautiful. The original hangs in Ulmo’s Studiolo, just a few steps away from the Chardonnay vines. The special edition is available in 300 jeroboams – and only one of the six 0.75l bottles per case bears the art label. The proceeds go towards "A Long and Magnificent Walk", a greening project in the archaeological park of Selinunte: a symbolic act against the fires that threaten Sicily every summer. Thus, an anniversary becomes a statement – and a Chardonnay into a manifesto.