Margaret River Chardonnay: Why It's Australia's Most Coveted White Wine
If there is one wine style that has firmly planted Western Australia on the global fine wine map, it is Margaret River Chardonnay. Elegant, complex, and built to age, great Margaret River Chardonnay rivals the finest white Burgundy in the world - and for those in the know, it often surpasses it in sheer drinkability and value. At Steves Winestore in Nedlands, we have long championed this extraordinary variety, and our current cellar features some of the most exciting expressions available in Australia today.
Why Margaret River is Chardonnay Country
Situated roughly 270 kilometres south of Perth, the Margaret River wine region enjoys a uniquely temperate maritime climate, with cool breezes rolling in off the Indian Ocean moderating summer heat. This slow, even ripening season is precisely what Chardonnay demands. The grape has time to develop deep flavour complexity while retaining the naturally high acidity that gives great Chardonnay its spine, its longevity, and that mouthwatering quality that keeps you coming back for another glass.
The soils of the region - predominantly gravelly loams over clay - add a mineral precision to the wines that savvy drinkers recognise immediately. This combination of climate and geology creates Chardonnay with white stone fruit, citrus blossom, and a steely, almost Chablis-like tension in its youth, which evolves over time into a seamlessly complex, creamy, nutty wine of genuine depth.
Leeuwin Estate 'Art Series' Chardonnay 2019 - An Australian Icon
Few bottles in the history of Australian wine carry the gravity of the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay. Since its debut in the 1980s, this wine has been described as Australia's greatest Chardonnay, and the 2019 vintage shows exactly why that reputation endures.
The 2019 growing season in Margaret River was warm and dry, producing fruit of exceptional concentration and purity. Leeuwin's Art Series is always made from a single vineyard block, hand-harvested and barrel-fermented in French oak. The result is a wine of striking intensity: white peach, grapefruit curd, roasted hazelnuts, and a subtle toasty complexity from extended lees ageing. On the palate, it is simultaneously rich and tightly wound - a wine that will continue to evolve and reward patience in the cellar for another decade or more.
At $190 per bottle, this is exceptional value for a wine of this calibre and global standing. It is available now at Steves Winestore and is the kind of bottle you buy two of: one to open tonight, one to put away for a special occasion.
McHenry Hohnen 'Hazel's Vineyard' Chardonnay 2023 - The New Guard
For those seeking a more immediate drinking experience without compromising on quality, the McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 is an inspired choice. McHenry Hohnen is one of Margaret River's most progressive producers, farming biodynamically and making wines with a focus on textural complexity and freshness.
The 'Hazel's Vineyard' bottling comes from a single estate block and is made with minimal intervention. Whole-bunch pressing preserves the delicate aromatics, and a combination of wild fermentation in French oak and extended time on lees gives the wine a beautiful creamy texture without losing its vibrancy. Expect flavours of white nectarine, Meyer lemon, flint, and a finish of toasted brioche that lingers elegantly. At $95, it punches well above its weight.
How to Serve and Store Margaret River Chardonnay
Great Chardonnay deserves care. Serve at around 12–14°C - too cold and you'll mute the aromatics; too warm and you'll lose the freshness. A wide-bowled white wine glass works best, allowing the wine to open up and breathe. For storage, a wine fridge or cool, dark cellar is ideal; the Art Series in particular will repay five to ten years of careful cellaring handsomely.
Find Your Perfect Margaret River Chardonnay at Steves
Steves Winestore is located at 30 The Avenue, Nedlands, and is Perth's finest destination for premium Australian and European wine. Our selection of Margaret River whites is curated by our in-house sommeliers and includes some of the most sought-after bottles from the region. Whether you're looking for a show-stopping gift, a special occasion wine, or a case to cellar, we can help.
Shop our full range of white wines online at steves.com.au or visit us in store in Nedlands today.
