Header image: Adelaide Hills Wine Region vineyard by John Kruger
Hold onto your wine glasses; Adelaide Hills has done it again! Out of just seven wines crowned ‘Global Chardonnay Masters’ by Drinks Business UK, a magnificent three hail from our very own backyard. That’s right, this once Burgundy-dominated title is now shining bright on the Adelaide Hills, putting the traditional powerhouses on notice.
Drinks Business magazine’s Global Chardonnay Masters is no ordinary wine showdown. It draws Chardonnay entries from across the globe, from New Zealand to Burgundy, and Tasmania to South America. Only the crème de la crème earn the prestigious title of ‘Master,’ making it the Chardonnay Olympics for wine lovers. This year’s winners? One from New Zealand, one from Tasmania, two from Burgundy, and a triumphant trio from the Adelaide Hills.
So, who are these golden drops from the Hills? Leading the charge is the Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay, a classic pour showcasing elegance and depth. Right beside it is its sibling, Tapanappa Tiers 1.5m Vineyard Chardonnay, proving that fine wine runs in the family. And completing the trifecta is the ever-iconic Penfolds Reserve Bin A, delivering a powerful punch of flavour and finesse. All hail from the stunning 2023 vintage.
Brian Croser AO, Tapanappa winemaker revolutionised the SA wine business in 1979, planting the very first Chardonnay vines in the Adelaide Hills. Everyone say, ‘thank you, Brian!’
Croser says, “The Adelaide Hills, and the Piccadilly Valley in particular, was always going to be recognised globally as providing great terroirs for Chardonnay. The climates, geology and soils of the Adelaide Hills are uniquely suited to growing distinguished Chardonnay.”
“It has taken 40 years to achieve this recognition and Tapanappa’s Tiers Vineyard in the Piccadilly Valley epitomises the patience and care required to elicit the very best from Chardonnay. It is a new dawn for Adelaide Hills Chardonnay,” Croser says.
President of Adelaide Hills Wine Region, Alex Trescowthick says, “Some people may be surprised
that Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills is creating such waves internationally. We are not. We
listened to Brian Croser when he planted the Tiers vineyard and followed suit throughout the
region.”
“Today, the success of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay is a stunning example of the right grape
in the right place, with the right people doing the right things. We are now producing some of the
world’s best Chardonnays, assessed by independent panels of experienced judges,” Trescowthick says.
Judge, Patrick Schmitt MW said, “As is so often said, the benchmark for this grape is Burgundy. However, when it came to bang for your buck, that award went to Tapanappa, which uses the oldest Chardonnay plantings in Adelaide Hills to yield a wine of great flavour concentration and palate-cleansing freshness… In short, it is an outstanding, ageworthy white for the price of a brut NV Champagne.”
It’s clear that Adelaide Hills isn’t just keeping up with the world’s best; it’s redefining the Chardonnay game. So, next time you pour a glass, raise it high for the homegrown heroes making waves on the global stage. Cheers to that!
For the full list of medallists from the Global Chardonnay Masters 2024, click here.
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