On the rolling slopes of Xanadu, vines flourish in the rich, free draining gravel soils, fed by an abundant supply of pristine water and sheltered by forests of magnificent marri trees. The site was chosen for its propensity to experience near perfect ripening conditions, beautiful indian summers with cool nights and clear warm days. The vines deliver an exceptional quality of Chardonnay, which Xanadu have fashioned into a generous, forward drinking wine. Natural ferments are encouraged, lees battonage is essential, infusing added complexity and charm.

Xanadu's salubrious vineyards are at the heart of Margaret River's most prestigious viticultural precinct. Warm growing seasons with cooling sea breezes create the perfect maritime growing climes. It is here that Chardonnay takes on an added dimension that's unique to Margaret River. More concentrated and more complex, more viscous and more tangy, without being weighty or cloying. The voluptuous fruit lends itself to wild yeast ferments and luxurious lees regimens, Xanadu's award winning team are masterful at both.

The Wilyabrup subregion of Margaret River is widely acclaimed by industry pundits as the source of Australia's finest Chardonnay. Woodland's consuming ambition is to create wines which emulate the great vineyards of the world. There is less than a hectare of low yielding Chardonnay at Woodlands and output is highly limited. Woodlands is produced exclusively from Mendoza, the clone that made Margaret River famous for Chardonnay. A luxurious regimen of lees stirring and new oak fermentation adds mouth filling textures and rich complexity.

Hand picked off a precious hectare of vines, planted to a felicitious bequeath of deep loam topsoils over clay, along the crest of a southerly slope at the very heart of the Woodland vineyards. Grapes are shunted up the hill to the Woodland wineworks for immediate pressing, wild indigenous yeast ferments and ten months lees stirring battonage in fine oak. Opulent yet refined, fragrant of chamomile and honeysuckle grapefruits, abundant with orchard characters, roasted hazelnuts and maritime salinity, a pebble and oyster shell minerality which conjures up tradewinds and briny tropical seas.

Wignalls were established 1982 after investigations into the local geography by founder Dr Bill Wignall. Results showed Albany's growing conditions were virtually identical to some of the great terroirs in France. Wignalls believe that terroir is the main reason for the remarkable quality of their wines. Attention to detail and a sophisticated trellis system to maximise sunlight and air circulation, greatly assist in achieving a superior quality of fruit. Fashioned to the statuesque styles of the great Burgundian Cru aged in the finest French oak.

Pure elegant Chardonnay, taught, terrific and trim, with a sense of West Australian vibrancy, an exemplar of the outstanding potential that Great Southern represents as a winegrowing region. The idyllic growing climes of Mount Barker, restrained yields, exacting standards of viticulture and an artisanal vinification are what make West Cape Howe a truly memorable experience. The most stylish parcels of Chardonnay are reserved for Styx, a clean textural wine with effusive citrus character and attractive weight of fruit before a wonderfully crisp finish.

West Cape Howe own and operate vineyards throughout the expansive viticultural precincts of Australia's largest winegrowing region. It is here at Great Southern that the balmy West Australian growing season and salubrious mix of terroirs, form mesoclimes which are heaven sent for good wine, while permutating into a diversity which favour specific grapes and styles. From choice blocks on the Russell Road Vineyard at Frankland River, a golden buttery, oak fermented Chardonnay, engaging as aperitif and perfect match to fine gourmandise.

Margaret River makes bold, flavoursome Chardonnay wines, offering a weight of fruit that drinks brilliantly without being aged or exposed to oak. A conspicuous wine show competition champion, judiciously medium bodied, fragrant with grapefruits and honey dew, kept vital and fresh in modern unwooded styling. The profound richness of natural Chardonnay fruit is upfront and central, lingering at the finish on the toothsome varietal characters of fresh fresh cut melons, tangerines and peach.

Single vineyard Chardonnay from the mollycoddled Watershed property at Margaret River. Fermented as small batches in a mix of seasoned French oak barriques, treated to a course of stirring battonage on sediments for several months, as the wine infuses barrel richness and textural lees complexity. The creamyness of cashew and background matchstick of oak in support of the varietal grapefruits and nectarine. An immensely food friendly style to accompany pork belly recipes, oily fleshed fishes or traditional smoke cod with kipfler, tarragon and thyme.

Watershed's distinguished vineyards are planted at the very heart of Margaret River's most prestigious estates, along Bussell Highway at the turn off to Leeuwin and Voyager. Fruit is treated to a Burgundian style of vinification and élevage, infusing the palate with creamy cryastaline textures and luxurious lees complexity. Awakening is vinified exclusively from hand picked grapes grown to a select block at Watershed, inoculated by wild indigenous yeasts and completely barrel fermented, for a wine of opulence and grace.

Watershed were established adjacent to the stateliest terroirs in Margaret River, right along Bussell Highway at the turn off to the eminent Leeuwin and Voyager properties. Watershed's Awakening is the elite of the range, a flagship Chardonnay which has been treated to an extravagant vinification by a highly accomplished team. Winner of multiple awards and conspicuous national wine show accolades, Watershed receives the luxury of oak barrel ferments and lees handling regimens, achieving a golden Chardonnay wine of remarkable richness.

A well defined west coast style with a measure of suppleness and mineral elegance. The collation of a dozen small blocks from the Stevens Valley at Wallcliffe on Margaret River, vinified around a core of resonant, grapefruit defined Gin Gin clone Chardonnay. Parcels are pressed and partially wild yeast, oak barrel fermented, followed by a term of several months lees stirring battonage for complexity, texture and finesse. Girt By Sea to a place at your luncheon table, ideally alongside a grill of west coast marron, moreton bay bugs or fry of the freshest fish.

Voyager Estate are in pursuit of elegance, structure and refinement, within the low alcohol spectrum of Chardonnay. Early picking and wild ferments, exposure to grape solids and battonage gives the wine complexity with balance. Treatments in high quality French oak achieve a wine of generosity and grace, structured and refined. The fruit profile is distinctly Margaret River, the palate is long and tight, creamy with regional dried pear and pink grapefruit showing through, enriched by luxurious notes of mealyness and nut.

Vinified from choice parcels of fruit, picked off a small block of Chardonnay vines on the Vasse Felix Karridale property, slightly south of Margaret River. This unusual section of Chardonnay stands out for its unique structure and flavour profile, ideally suited to the Blanc de Blancs style. Only a tiny volume is ever made. Idée Fixe is artfully whole bunch pressed and sent to oak for the indulgence of barrel ferments, followed a by a luxurious term of two long, languid years prior to riddling and disgorgement. A profound and memorable experience for the most discerning enthusiast.

Margaret River is recognized as a more modern style of Chardonnay, focusing on varietal fruit characters while permitting oak and fermentation complexity to support, not overwhelm. Heytesbury represents the best Margaret River Chardonnay Vasse Felix can produce each year, a regional flagship assembled from a barrel cull of the most spectacular parcels, representing the finest of vintage, articulating the complexities achieved through natural ferments, increased solids exposure and quality French oak.

A Chardonnay of extraordinary freshness, slightly more fruit forward than its icon Heytesbury sibling. Vasse Felix create a complex, softly textured wine, crafted to the old world traditions of wild yeast ferments and regular stirring in fine French oak. The final effort is distinct, elegant in style and true to Margaret River. Typified by its bright, delicate fruit and tight, underlying acidity throughout, a reflection of the purity to be found in Margaret River, a Chardonnay of compelling primary fruit flavours within a palate of the soundest structure.

Proponents of the uniquely West Australian genre, Vasse Felix take a no expense spared approach to sparkling wine. Treated to the full regimen of Methode traditionelle, a pure Chardonnay cuvée, crafted according to vintage conditions and the character of harvest. Refined effervescence, a luscious, fresh entrance to the palate, bursting with voluminous yet refined creamy mousse. The dry, chalky, mineral edge is balanced by subtle creamy textures and judicious measure of dosage liqueur.

Valley of the Giants is an ancient forest just outside of Denmark in Australia's deep southwest, home of the enormous indigenous Red Tingle tree. The magic of this ancient forest comes alive at night as local fauna meander around the cyclopean flora, some of which are sixteen metres in circumference. The Fifth Leg Devils Lair team know about white wine, earmarking the most lively parcels of Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc to be vinified into a Crisp Dry White. Enjoy with chicken caesar and fresh seafood, scallops or calamari.

Swings & Roundabouts retain access to some of Western Australia's best vineyards. Their rounder and more deliberate style of Chardonnay targets fresh drinking rather than oak overkill. The pick of Margaret River's fruit is vinified into a finely honed Chardonnay wine with effusive stonefruit/ apple characters and brisk vegetative acidity, made even more attractive by a course of luxurious barrel ferments, adding texture and infusing the wine with warming vanilla spice. A treat alongside prawns or chicken caesar, Swings & Roundabouts is an easy to appreciate aperitif style.

Bridgeland is one of the most picturesque properties on Margaret River. Originally prime farmland, it boasts one of the largest dams in the region, approximately a kilometre in length and covering eighteen hectares. Bridgeland is endowed with a unique confluence of terroir and clime, a longer, cooler growing season and slower ripening period to produce wines of the highest quality. Barrel fermented in a high proportion of new French oak barriques, battonaged throughout the maturation to infuse opulent textures and extraordinary complexity.

Stella Bella have won resounding critical acclaim and a reputation for producing artisanly crafted Margaret River wines of great expression, personality and quality. Stella Bella have established an almost peerless reputation after receiving numerous accolades at significant competitions, including coveted Gold and Mission Hill Trophy at the London International, the only southern hemisphere Chardonnay to win such a prestigious award.

Swan Valley based Sandalford have beeen making wine for over 150 years, changing their style and vinification throughout the passage of generations in many ways. During the 1970s, they developed a major new vineyard in Margaret River. Now one of the oldest, it is also one the largest, covering six hundred acres, the source of the most exceptional quality in mature vines Chardonnay. Oak barrel ferments, wild yeasts and time spent sur lies, a west coast Chardonnay of greater complexity for those who like a bigger, richer style.

Sandalford are one of the nation's elder winemaking estates, with a tradition which dates back to the 1840s. The Element range is styled for modern palates, an assemblage of Verdelho and Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, much from the Swan Valley, an area that's well suited to aromatic white grapes. The main influences are the warm, dry summers and revitalizing maritime winds from the Indian Ocean. West Australian sunshine in a bottle, the wine of choice to accompany salt & pepper squid or freshly tossed caesar.

Sandalford's award winning offerings reflect contemporary lifestyles, always fashioned with today's tastes and trends in mind. Element reveals fully why Chardonnay has found a wonderful new home within the blamy maritime terroirs of the Australian west coast. The nose is reminiscent of stonefruits and citrus, the palate offers ripe peach and melon characters, a mouth filling creamy texture and fine, refreshing finish.

A fruit driven style supported by subtle oak ferments and Sur lie maturation, crafted by one of the Pemberton region's most conspicuous and artisanal family operated estates. Salitage retain traditional winemaking techniques, delivering complexity of aroma and flavour through clonal diversity, lees contact and French oak treatments. A style suited to those looking for full aromaticness and presence of palate in West Australian Chardonnay.

Margaret River enjoys a Mediterranean climate with cool winters and good rainfall, followed by dry, moderate summers, ideal conditions for wine growing. The auspicious climes afford grapes an opportunity to remain on vine for full development of all the bold regional perfumes and flavours which characterize Margaret River Chardonnay. The team at Pitchfork choose to preserve the exquisite freshness of fruit, by crafting an unoaked wine that speaks of its provenance and is articulate of truly world class Chardonnay.

Picardy is a traditional Burgundian style of Chardonnay with impressive aromatics and profound fruit character. The wine possesses all requisite floral and fine grassy sour sob/ oxalis grass characters expected in a young Burgundy. Picardy offers great texture and solid structure with high acid and extraordinarily low pH whilst retaining perfect balance. Crafted from grapes grown to four clones of vine imported from France, selected over a decade of trials out of a field of several hundred, grown to some of the most illustrious vineyards in Burgundy.

Bill and Sandra Pannell were super keen to plant Chardonnay as soon as cuttings became available in 1976. Moss Wood have evolved into one of the new world's leading purveyors of west coat wines, their profound vintages of Chardonnay remain true to their provenance and sense of place. For those who like their Chardonnay in the big boned Burgundy style. Lifted fruit aromas of peach, lime and quince with fragrant orange blossom notes, a rich background of roasted nuts, caramel, cheese and soft oak, cinnamon and almost toasted hot cross buns.

Moss Wood include parcels of exposed grapes with no leaves, others without leaf removal. The former is a more complex style of Chardonnay with accentuated malty and roasted nut characters while the latter tends to retain citrus, honeysuckle and peach blossom aromatics whilst looking prettier. Before assembling, there are extensive tastings to check on the choice of barrel and to compare the different levels of exposure. The results are fascinating, a grand total of just a few hundred cases are made each year, Moss Wood Chardonnay is always beaut.

Leeuwin are particularly adept at vinifying world class Chardonnay, the estate's flagship is Langtons Classified, a member of the most elite rank in Australian wine. On three occasions, Leeuwin have been listed on the Wine & Spirits International Winery of Year and included in the prestigious 1OO Vins De Legende. Prelude Vineyard is an elite site, closely managed by the highly decorated Chardonnay artificers at Leeuwin, to yield a tghtly focused wine with layers of impeccably clean flavour, a remarkable balance and exquisite style.

Exceptional Langtons Classification. Great wines are born in great vineyards. At Leeuwin the viticulturist and winemaker work hand in hand throughout the winemaking process. Variations and deficiencies in the individual blocks have not been completely corrected so that the wine reflects the soil. Block 20 forms the backbone of Art Series. The young wine begins with true varietal power of great delicacy which requires up to twelve months lees contact in new French oak to draw out the complexity, losing none of that essential balance in the process.