Chardonnay

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. In the glass, it shines in a light straw yellow colour with a delicate, persistent perlage. The nose has fine aromas of apple, citrus zest and almond blossom, accompanied by subtle floral and herbal notes. The palate reveals a clear fruit line with crisp acidity and a fine texture. The finish is dry, elegant and characterised by clear minerality. A Franciacorta that impresses with its stylistic clarity – charming, fresh and unmistakably Guido Berlucchi. Perfect as an aperitif or a high-class accompaniment to seafood antipasti or mild cheese. SUPERIORE.DE

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

Impressively structured Chardonnay from the Kreuth estate. The western vineyard produces a very elegant wine that impresses with its fine acidity, creamy structure and elegant interplay of flavours. Bright, radiant straw yellow in colour. Complex and balanced, with an abundance of tropical fruit, underlined by a sensual salty minerality. Long and persistent. SUPERIORE.DE

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.

In Franciacorta, Satèn stands for pure Chardonnay and a softer carbonic acidity, which gives the wine its unmistakable creaminess. The grapes for the '61 Satèn come from selected Chardonnay parcels that offer optimum ripeness and aromatic fullness. After gentle pressing, the base wine is matured partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in wood before maturing on the lees for at least 24 months. Delicate straw yellow in the glass with a fine, persistent perlage. White flowers, ripe pear, citrus cream and a hint of vanilla on the nose. Silky and smooth on the palate, with harmonious acidity, fine fruit depth and a subtle nutty undertone. The final is long, soft and mineral-accentuated. A Satèn that combines elegance, finesse and style – ideal for special moments and fine cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

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 viticulture: Planetas Chardonnay combines French grape variety tradition with the sun-kissed terroir of the south and produces one of Italy's most distinctive white wines year after year. The grapes come from two altitudes, Ulmo at 250 metres and Maroccoli at 415 metres above sea level. The colour in the glass is a brilliant golden yellow with light greenish reflections. The aroma is intense and refined: yellow tropical fruit, toasted almonds, citrus blossom, vanilla, wet stone and a hint of salty butter. Dense and full-bodied on the palate, with ripe fruit, a perfect balance between freshness and creaminess, fine flavour and a long, elegant finish. A cult wine that combines Mediterranean richness with Burgundian noblesse. Ideal with lobster, fried fish, poultry in a butter sauce or as a great white wine on its own. 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.

Chiarandà is Donnafugata's great white solitaire, a Sicilian Chardonnay with an unmistakable format and clear terroir profile. The grapes come from selected plots around Contessa Entellina, at an altitude of around 350 to 400 metres. The Mediterranean climate is characterised by hot days and cool nights, while the clay and limestone soils offer the best conditions for ripeness with structure. The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand, selectively and early in the morning. One part of the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks, the other in French oak, where malolactic fermentation also takes place. The assemblage is followed by extended bottle ageing of at least two years – careful ageing with a view to longevity.

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

Chardonnay Al Poggio benefits from high altitude vineyards (from around 500 metres above sea level) and the cool limestone soils of the Chianti Classico region to produce this fresh, crisp and delightfully approachable white wine. The unmistakable regional elements are reminiscent of apricot and peach, with light sprinklings of Italian herbs such as fresh oregano and sprigs of rosemary. Fine mineral notes and fresh hints of citrus fruit make this incredibly flavoursome and thoroughly complex Chardonnay an ideal accompaniment to Mediterranean summer dishes. SUPERIORE.DE

Limited anniversary edition with a special label to celebrate the birthday of the icon of modern Sicilian viticulture: 30 years of Planeta Chardonnay – and the label is on fire to mark the anniversary. Not really, but almost: "On Fire" is the name of Claire Fontaine's work, which adorns the 2024 vintage in a limited edition. Founded in Paris in 2004 and based in Palermo since 2017, the artist collective – whose work "Foreigners Everywhere" gave the Venice Biennale 2024 its title – has turned the flame emoji into a light sculpture: detached from the digital, it has become physical and irritatingly beautiful. The original hangs in Ulmo's Studiolo, just a few steps away from the Chardonnay vines. The special edition appears on 300 Jeroboams – and only one of six 0.75 litre bottles per box bears the art label. The proceeds will 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. In this way, an anniversary becomes a statement – and a Chardonnay becomes a manifesto.

Bright yellow-green in colour. Intense nose of orchard fruits, ripe peach, roasted nuts and some lemon mousse, rounded off with creamy vanilla. Very juicy on the palate, not too heavy, with salty elements and warm yellow fruit flavours. Chardonnay made by Lis Neris is always a complete pleasure and a lasting memory. Very elegant and with good ageing and maturation potential thanks to 11 months of ageing on the fine lees. SUPERIORE.DE

It is the original wine from Ca' del Bosco: first vinified in 1972 as Pinot di Franciacorta Bianco, long before the Spumanti made the winery world-famous. Over the years, it has changed its name several times – from Franciacorta Bianco to Terre di Franciacorta to Curtefranca Bianco. Since the 2017 vintage, it has been called Corte del Lupo: the farmyard and the wolf, faithful guardians of the estate, adorn the new label as the essence of the terroir. The cuvée of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Bianco comes from thirteen certified organic vineyards in Erbusco, Cazzago San Martino and Passirano – vines from 25 to 30 years old. Every single grape undergoes the legendary "spa for grapes": washing, hydromassage and gentle drying before being pressed. A quarter ferments in small oak barrels, the rest in stainless steel, followed by six months on the lees.