Main Divide Chardonnay

Main Divide Chardonnay is made by the Pegasus Bay crew – a primo Waipara producer with international recognition for their classy line up of wines.

This is the little brother to their Pegasus Bay label. Just quietly we reckon it’s punching well above its weight for under twenty bucks! Main Divide is the name given to the mighty Southern Alp range, nicknamed the “backbone of the South Island” by some southerners. Backbone is exactly what this stunning white has got in abundance.

The Pegasus winemaking team like to go with a “Burgundian” with their Main Divide Chardonnay. That means it’s had the fancy treatment of barrel fermentation, lees aging and malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity. The end result? A complex style full of citrus and stone fruit flavours and spicy oak.

This is a 2025 release that the Pegasus Bay crew are pretty happy with – we’re totally on board with it too! They describe it as “elegantly textured, flaunting liveliness and a vibrancy that dances in the mouth”

They went on to say “Discreet creaminess is backed by brilliantly pitched acidity, adding a sense of refreshment and structure on the long, racy finish.”

Drinking well now but will develop nicely over the next few years. Try pairing it with white meat and seafood dishes in rich sauces.