Australia’s Favourite Chardonnay: Blind Tasting to Find the Best (Chardonnay Day, 21 May)
What is the best Australian Chardonnay right now? In the lead-up to Chardonnay Day, we asked our audience and then let the glass decide.
What Is the Best Australian Chardonnay Right Now?
It’s one of the most debated questions in Australian wine: what is the best Australian Chardonnay? If you’re searching for the best Australian Chardonnay, this tasting offers a rare, unbiased look at what truly stands out.
In the lead-up to Chardonnay Day on May 21, we decided to answer that question a little differently.
Instead of relying on critics or scores, we went straight to the people who matter most, our audience. We asked a simple question:
What’s your favourite Australian Chardonnay?
The response was immediate and massive.
Over 50 wines were nominated, spanning the country’s most respected regions. But more importantly, it set the foundation for one of our most ambitious podcast episodes yet.
👉 This tasting and everything that follows is featured in our Chardonnay Day episode.
Top 10 Australian Chardonnays Shortlisted
From over 50 nominations, we narrowed it down to the 10 most frequently mentioned wines, Australia’s true crowd favourites:
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
- Giaconda Chardonnay
- Savaterre Chardonnay
- Sorrenberg Chardonnay
- Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay
- Pierro Chardonnay
- Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay
- Lake’s Folly Chardonnay
- Dappled Chardonnay
- Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay
This wasn’t a critic-driven list. It was built by real drinkers, making it a far more honest reflection of what people are actually loving right now.
Blind Tasting Method: Letting the Glass Decide
To take this beyond a popularity contest, we brought in our trusted confidant, Marc Malouf, to join Trent in a fully blind tasting, captured in full for the podcast episode.
And, in classic Malouf fashion, he added a twist.
Marc introduced three additional wines into the lineup, completely blind, including one very well-known French Chardonnay.
No labels. No context. Just the glass in front of us.
The Format
We ran a strict A/B blind knockout format:
- Two wines poured side-by-side
- Taste, compare, decide
- Winner progresses
- Loser is eliminated
This played out across eight rounds, forcing decisions at every stage. Sometimes hard decisions, but someone had to do it!
🎧 You’ll hear every call, debate, and surprise result in the full episode.
The Best Australian Chardonnay (According to the Glass)
After eight rounds of blind tasting, two wines clearly rose to the top.
🥇 Marc Malouf’s Favourite
- Savaterre Chardonnay
Savaterre Chardonnay (Beechworth)
Savaterre Chardonnay has long been one of Beechworth’s benchmark producers, and the 2023 release reinforces exactly why. There’s a quiet confidence to this wine, nothing overt, nothing forced, just precision and control from start to finish.
The 2023 Chardonnay leans into restraint, with fine citrus, white stone fruit, and a subtle mineral line carrying through the palate. There’s also a noticeable reductive edge that struck-match, flinty character that feels distinctly Beechworth and adds another layer of complexity. Oak is present but seamlessly integrated, contributing texture without ever dominating.
What really sets it apart, however, is its structure, tight, focused, and built to evolve. In a blind setting, it’s easy to see why this wine stood out. It doesn’t shout for attention but it holds it.
🥇 Trent’s Favourite
- Giaconda Chardonnay
Giaconda Chardonnay (Beechworth)
Giaconda Chardonnay has long been regarded as one of Australia’s most iconic expressions of Chardonnay, and the 2023 vintage shows exactly why it continues to sit at the top of that conversation.
There’s an immediate intensity to the wine, layered stone fruit, citrus, and a deep, almost savoury complexity that unfolds with time in the glass. A distinct reductive edge, very much in line with Beechworth’s signature style, brings tension and precision, while high-quality oak is seamlessly integrated, adding weight and texture without ever overpowering the fruit.
What separates Giaconda, however, is its scale. This is a Chardonnay with presence, broad yet controlled, powerful yet composed. The palate carries both richness and drive, finishing long and structured.
In a blind tasting, it’s a wine that commands attention. And once it has it, it doesn’t let go!
Both from Beechworth. Both exceptional.
Marc leaned toward Savaterre for its precision and restraint. Trent couldn’t go past Giaconda’s power and layered complexity.
If you’re searching for the best Australian Chardonnay, this is as close as it gets. The two wines that delivered under the most unbiased conditions possible.
Top 5 Australian Chardonnays Ranked
Rounding out the results:
- Savaterre Chardonnay
- Giaconda Chardonnay
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
- Tolpuddle Vineyard Chardonnay
- Domaine Naturaliste Purus Chardonnay
Each brought something distinct to the table. From power and richness to tension and finesse.
What Makes a Great Australian Chardonnay?
Tasting these wines side-by-side revealed a clear pattern.
The best-performing Chardonnays weren’t the biggest, they were the most complete.
Across the top wines, we consistently saw:
- Fresh, driving acidity
- Seamless oak integration
- Balanced texture
- Long, persistent finishes
And most importantly, a strong sense of place. Whether driven by the land itself or the unmistakable fingerprint of the winemaker.
Australian Chardonnay vs French Chardonnay
One of the most interesting elements of the tasting explored further in the episode, was the inclusion of a French benchmark Chardonnay.
It held its own, but it didn’t dominate. If anything, it confirmed what many suspected:
Australian Chardonnay is no longer chasing the world’s best, it’s competing with the world’s best!
What We Learned
1. Beechworth Is Elite
Both Savaterre and Giaconda showed just how powerful and precise the region can be.
2. Balance Wins
The wines that progressed weren’t the loudest, they were the most complete.
3. Blind Tasting Changes Everything
Reputation doesn’t guarantee results.
4. Australia Is World-Class
There’s no longer any doubt.
Final Thoughts: Favourite vs Best
We set out to find Australia’s favourite Chardonnay.
But along the way, we got pretty close to answering a bigger question:
what is the best Australian Chardonnay right now?
Maybe it’s not one wine. Maybe it’s a shortlist. A tier of producers consistently delivering at the highest level. What’s clear is this:
Australia doesn’t just make great Chardonnay. It makes some of the best Chardonnay in the world.
🎧 Listen to the Chardonnay Day Episode
The full blind tasting, including every matchup, surprise, and final decision drops in time for Chardonnay Day on 21st May. You can listen or watch right here: Australia’s Best Chardonnay? The Blind Tasting Shocked Us
FAQs: Australian Chardonnay
What is the best Australian Chardonnay?
Based on our blind tasting, Giaconda and Savaterre Chardonnay were the standout performers.
Which region makes the best Australian Chardonnay?
Beechworth, Margaret River, and Tasmania consistently produce top Chardonnay.
Is Australian Chardonnay better than French Chardonnay?
Let’s not go there, but rather than “better,” Australian Chardonnay now competes confidently with the world’s best.
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