Giesen Estate Chardonnay

Giesen Estate Chardonnay The current 2025 release is a generous, smooth Hawke's Bay Chardonnay built around ripe citrus, peach and melon, with a floral lift, vanilla and a touch of butterscotch adding extra interest. Six months on French oak brings gentle creaminess and texture without pushing the fruit into the background, while balanced acidity keeps everything fresh through the long finish. It is an easy-going style with enough polish for the dinner table, especially alongside roast chicken, pork or creamy vegetable dishes. A smart pick when you want Chardonnay with flavour, softness and a well-judged touch of oak.

What the winery says:

The 2025 Chardonnay is sourced from Hawke's Bay on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. Giesen describes the 2024/25 growing season as warm and dry, helping build flavour and natural richness, with fine weather returning ahead of harvest after a short spell of late-season rain. The wine was matured for six months on French oak to add subtle texture and complexity while retaining its fruit-forward character. Expect bright citrus and stone fruit, gentle creaminess, balanced acidity and a long finish. The wine is 13.6% alcohol, with 1.9 g/L residual sugar, and the winery suggests seared pork loin with seasonal roast vegetables.