Church Road McDonald Series Chardonnay

Church Road’s label celebrating the life of wine legend Tom McDonald – in some circles nicknamed the “Father of red wine in New Zealand”. Church Road McDonald Series Chardonnay

Tom was a spotty faced teenager in 1921 when his career in wine kicked off. Over the next 55 years he turned winemaking in Hawke’s Bay on its head, scooping many accolades for his complex Chardonnay and Bordeaux style reds. You don’t get awarded the Order of the British Empire for nothing you know!

In tune with Tom’s passion for French winemaking this Chardonnay has had the bells and whistles treatment from today’s Church Road winemaking squad. We’re talking hand harvested, whole bunch pressed and wild fermentation in French oak. An elegant style that doesn’t go over board with the use of oak – a style of Chardonnay that makes a damn fine food wine.

Kiwi critic Michael Cooper calls “Typically a great buy, with greater richness and complexity than most $25 Chardonnays” – he ain’t wrong! It’s won Gold at the NZ International Wine Show two years running, this is from a belter of a 2025 vintage in Hawke’s Bay this is yet another absolutely gorgeous Chardonnay under this label that will undoubtedly win gongs…watch this space!

Scoring 4 1/2 Stars with Cooper in his NZ Listener article – “36 affordable tipples you can bank on”. Cooper said “This wine consistently offers greater richness and complexity than most sub-$25 chardonnays. Grown mostly in the lower Tukituki Valley and fermented and lees-aged for eight months in French oak casks (25% new), it is full bodied, with concentrated, ripe stonefruit flavours, strong buttery and toasty notes add good complexity, balanced acidity and a dry, very harmonious finish.”

Food matching your Church Road McDonald Series Chardonnay? Try seafood like scallops, crayfish and oily salmon. Don’t be afraid to include some creamy, buttery sauces in there too!