Chardonnay

Now in its 30th vintage, it has long been an icon of modern Sicilian winemaking: Planeta's Chardonnay combines the French tradition of grape varieties with the sun-drenched terroir of the south, producing, year after year, one of Italy's most distinctive white wines. 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, pan-fried fish, poultry in a butter sauce, or even 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.

It is Ca' del Bosco's original wine: first produced in 1972 as Pinot di Franciacorta Bianco, long before the estate's spumanti brought it worldwide fame. Over the years, it has changed its name several times – from Franciacorta Bianco to Terre di Franciacorta and finally to Curtefranca Bianco. Since the 2017 vintage, it has been known as Corte del Lupo: the farmstead and the wolf, faithful guardians of the estate, adorn the new label as the essence of the terroir. The cuvée, made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Bianco, comes from thirteen certified organic vineyards in Erbusco, Cazzago San Martino and Passirano – vines aged between 25 and 30 years. Every single grape passes through the legendary 'grape spa': washing, hydromassage and gentle drying before it reaches the press. A quarter ferments in small oak barrels, the rest in stainless steel, followed by six months' ageing on the lees.

In Roagnas Bianco, history, terroir and the winemaker's personal touch come together in a way that is unrivalled in Piedmont. This cuvée, made predominantly from Chardonnay with a small proportion of Nebbiolo (vinified as white), comes from old vineyards around Barbaresco – sites otherwise reserved for great reds. The soil: calcareous marl with marine inclusions. The philosophy: absolute naturalness, from pest control to vinification. Following the slow pressing of whole grapes, spontaneous fermentation takes place using the vineyard's own yeasts. The wine is aged for around 18 months in large, used barrels, during which time Luca Roagna deliberately refrains from technical interventions – no fining, no filtration, and minimal sulphur addition.

A limited-edition anniversary release featuring a special label to mark the birthday of the icon of modern Sicilian winemaking: 30 years of Planeta Chardonnay – and to celebrate the anniversary, the label is on fire. Not literally, but almost: "On Fire" is the title of the artwork 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, bewitchingly 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 0.75-litre 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 becomes a manifesto.

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

The Chardonnay grapes for Lis Neris' Metodo Classico come from the historic Jurosa vineyard. After the first fermentation in 500-litre barrels, it matures for at least three years in the bottle on the fine lees and develops the nobility and elegance that immediately excited us. On the nose, notes of yeast, light stone fruit, limestone and minerals. In the mouth it is creamy and elegant, blessed with depth and at the same time great freshness, which one would wish for from many a French counterpart. Dom Jurosa is precise, cool and pleasantly dry in its overall appearance, which also makes it an excellent food companion. SUPERIORE.DE

In 1986, Hans Terzer took the bold step of producing a Chardonnay in the Burgundian style, which was to set international standards. The grapes for this wine, which has since become the flagship of the Sanct Valentin range, come from the finest single vineyards in the municipality of Eppan, situated between 450 and 550 metres above sea level on calcareous gravel soils. Warm September days, cool nights – the microclimate of the South Tyrolean mountain vineyards lends the Chardonnay that aromatic depth and structure which allow it to mature year after year. Each plot is vinified separately. Fermentation begins in barriques, as does malolactic fermentation, followed by eleven months on the fine lees – only then is the blend assembled, followed by a further eight months' ageing in stainless steel tanks to perfect the balance between fruit, oak and minerality.

A Satèn with supple fullness and fine elegance: the 2021 Millesimato edition shows how velvety Chardonnay can be. The grapes come from Chardonnay parcels on moraine hills that harmoniously reflect the cooler climate of Franciacorta. Maturation in the bottle on the lees lasted around 36 months, giving the wine its silky texture and fine 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.

In 1716, Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici designated Pomino as one of only four Tuscan regions for so-called "quality wine", alongside Chianti, Carmignano and the Val d'Arno di Sopra – an early precursor to today's DOC classification. On the cool slopes, 700 metres above sea level amongst giant sequoias and chestnut trees, this led to the creation in 1973 of the Benefizio, the very first Italian white wine ever to be fermented and matured in barriques.

C'eragià – which is Sicilian and means: "Once upon a time." An allusion to something improbable that nevertheless came true. Because Chardonnay on the northern slope of Mount Etna, at an altitude of 740 metres, in the Contrada Rampante – sounds like an experiment that shouldn't actually work. And yet it is exactly the opposite: proof that the volcanic soil of this mountain moulds grape varieties that behave differently elsewhere.

Gianfranco Gallo has a saying he always repeats: "Wine needs time to reveal its true character." This is not modesty – it is an attitude that shapes his entire winery. Since 1992, all Vie di Romans wines have only been released onto the market two years after the harvest. The Chardonnay that bears his name is the most personal expression of this conviction. The vineyard is situated in Mariano del Friuli on glacial gravel soils deposited by the Isonzo over millennia – rich in gravel, highly mineral and well-aerated. The Bora winds from the east create marked temperature fluctuations between day and night, combining Mediterranean ripeness with Alpine freshness in a rare harmony. Late harvest to achieve maximum aromatic ripeness. Control over oxidation from the very start. Fermentation at a controlled temperature, nine months' ageing on the lees in barriques, followed by bottle ageing.

Beppe Fenoglio and Cesare Pavese have chronicled these hills; it was from them that the families of Conterno Fantino learnt to express who they are. They do so primarily through red wine, and since 1993 also through a Chardonnay. Near Monforte d'Alba, Chardonnay has been grown since 1990; planting continued until 1998 on west- and east-facing slopes at altitudes between 300 and 550 metres, in silty soil with a high sand content, using organic farming methods. The grapes are harvested by hand in early September; the whole bunches are gently pressed, and fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place in French oak, where the wine also matures in barrels of various sizes.

Just like the famous I Sistri, the “Collezione Privata” is a single-varietal Chardonnay. Since the early 1980s, the former LitersGiovanni Mazzocolin had sourced some of his Chardonnay vines from Burgundy, and so a micro-site was cultivated here right up until the 2000s; the grapes from this site are used to produce the gently vinified “I Sistri Collezione Privata” is made. A bright, intense straw-yellow colour with golden highlights. A delicately reductive nose of spices, peach and exotic fruits, with subtle hints of vanilla. Creamy and full-bodied on the palate; the perfectly balanced acidity lends it structure, whilst the fresh juice, combined with a mineral-salty note, carries this complex white wine into an exciting and spicy finish of quince and orange. The clearly recognisable Burgundian style of this great Chardonnay will continue to develop with further bottle ageing, not least due to the subtle barrique ageing. Very attractive at an even more attractive price! SUPERIORE.DE

The Chardonnay glass leaves enough room for any white wine with medium to full body. Even big, full-bodied white wines will show off their primary aromas superbly in this precision glass. The Superleggero series combines the tailor-made characteristics of the mouth-blown wine-specific glasses of the legendary Sommelier line with the consistent precision of machine production. Perfectly adapted to the individual types of wine, the high-quality glasses enhance every moment, no matter how enjoyable.

A Chardonnay with a clear expression of origin and subtle noblesse: Paolo Meroi ferments and ages his white wine from high-altitude vineyards around Buttrio partly in used wood - enough to give it depth and structure, but without any intrusive woody flavours. The result is a wine of great balance. Brilliant straw yellow in the glass with golden reflections. On the nose, yellow apple, ripe lemon, some quince, white flowers and a fine hint of vanilla and roasted hazelnut. Dense yet precise on the palate, with a smooth, salty flavour and cool minerality. The acidity is present but well integrated, the finish is elegant and accompanied by a slight spiciness. A Friuli Chardonnay with a Burgundian soul - focussed, multi-layered and far from arbitrary. SUPERIORE.DE

Vigna Crivelli is one of the most renowned white wine vineyards in the South Tyrolean Unterland. Named after Count Crivelli, a leading member of an ancient noble family from Margreid, the Chardonnay thrives here on alluvial soils of fine sand with silt and clay deposits under ideal conditions. The unique microclimate of this single vineyard is characterised by strong downdrafts from the Fennberg and the daily southerly wind, the ‘Ora’, which ensures perfect aeration of the grapes. The marked day-night temperature fluctuations allow for a long ripening period with optimal aroma development. The vines are planted on low-growth rootstocks and trained using the Guyot system.

The vines from which the Chardonnay grapes for the Rio delle Rose come are over 80 years old. Fine, exotic and noticeably mineral bouquet of pome fruit, apple, citrus peel, white flowers, some flint and a hint of banana and pineapple. On the palate, it is driven forward, with beautiful pressure and juicy tension, then again this fine minerality in the further course and a very delicate, never-ending melt in the long, complex finish. Very balanced and big - with its subtle restraint and great personality, Rio delle Rose is for us one of the best Chardonnays from Friuli! SUPERIORE.DE