Hawke's Bay Chardonnay

Hawke's Bay Chardonnay showcases the region at its richest, built on warm days and long ripening that push the variety toward fuller body and more generous barrel character than cooler parts of the country. It's the style to reach for if you want something with real weight behind it, closer to a classic Burgundian approach than the leaner, more citrus-driven versions coming out of Marlborough. Hawke's Bay more broadly is worth exploring if Chardonnay isn't the only thing on your list, since the region also turns out excellent reds. For the wider domestic picture, New Zealand Chardonnay covers every region, and Chardonnay opens things up internationally.