I’m utterly, unapologetically in love with Chardonnay. Always have been. I’ve tasted thousands — from humble $15 bottles to handcrafted masterpieces well over $1500 — and yet, this grape still manages to surprise me. It can be delicate or bold, creamy or refined, and when done well, it sweeps me off my feet. A good Chardonnay makes me smile. A brilliant one? I’ll write poetry.
And this new 2022 release from Padthaway? It’s got me head over heels.
Elegant, modern, and unmistakably expressive, it’s the kind of wine that reminds you why Chardonnay remains the undisputed icon of table whites.
The just-released 2022 vintage is already catching serious attention backing up the previous 2021 Landaire Chardonnay from South Australia’s Padthaway region which was crowned both Chardonnay of the Year and White Wine of the Year by the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion last year. What a double-win and a sell-out.
But this wasn’t just a win for Landaire. It was a win for South Australian wine.
It’s a loud and proud reminder that world-class Chardonnay isn’t just the domain of the Adelaide Hills, Margaret River or the Yarra Valley. Padthaway, with its cool climate and limestone soils, is firmly on the map, and it’s about time more people knew it.
At just $40 a bottle, the new 2022 release punches so far above its weight it’s practically airborne.
The just-released 2022 vintage is already catching serious attention — and for good reason. Wine judge and writer Shanteh Wale captured its essence beautifully:
“Hand-picked from the French Bernard clones 95 and 277. The wine is powerfully fragrant with lemon curd, papaya and white grapefruit segments. Citron zest, chrysanthemum tea and acacia flowers. Acidity slides and slips along, carrying more citrus pulp and bending to candle nut and crème fraîche. Oak shows in the creamy sawdust spray of new oak, without the char and heavily toasted notes. Mango lassi on the finish. It’s a layered wicker basket of fruit and nuts. Captures the brightness and vitality of some cool conditions. A wine that will continue to develop complexity but also is drinking like a dream now. Superb value.”
And honestly? She’s spot on.
As someone who’s drunk more Chardonnays than I care to admit — all in the name of research, of course — I can safely say this one is worth tracking down. Not just because it’s taken out the top gongs, but because it tells a story. Of place, of people, of patience.
There’s a quiet confidence to Landaire’s approach, and it shows in this vintage. The result is a Chardonnay that manages to be both serious and seriously drinkable.
Landaire is the premium label of David and Carolyn Brown and family, who have been growing grapes in the region since the late 90s. In 2017, they restored the historic Padthaway Estate and turned the Old Stables into a cellar door that’s as charming as the wines it houses.
Want to taste the Landaire range of small production, premium and award-winning stable of wines? Take a 3.5 hour road trip from Adelaide and visit the cellar door.
For those planning a visit over Easter, Padthaway Estate offers charming accommodation options to enhance your stay. The historic 1847 Lawson Cottage and 1901 Shearers Quarters are available for bookings, providing a comfortable retreat amidst the vineyards. It’s an ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the region’s beauty and enjoy the acclaimed Landaire wines right at the source. For more details and to secure your accommodation, visit Padthaway Estate’s website.
The new release Chardonnay will be available as part of the Urban Kitchen event in Rundle Mall as part of Tasting Australia. Where people visiting the Mall can experience a culinary journey through South Australia’s finest food regions at a pop-up that brings together the state’s most renowned regional producers, artisans, and icons.
To celebrate the new release of the Landaire Chardonnay don’t just raise a glass — pour yourself one.
Padthaway Estate
Where: 6299 Riddoch Highway, Padthaway
When: Friday to Sunday 11am to 4pm. Other times by appointment.
For more info: padthawayestate.com.au
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