Chardonnay, a Year in Review [2025] by John Humphreys, an annual report hosted on The Wine Front

Australia now grows approximately 10 per cent of the world’s Chardonnay and is the third largest cultivator of the variety after France and the USA.

Closer to home, few could argue that the Beechworth wine region boasts an unusually high concentration of vignerons dedicated to producing the finest Chardonnays the country offers. Remember that Beechworth is Australia’s smallest GI, too. Our Thorley and the neighbouring Brunnen site exemplify the ease with which the region produces Chardonnays of presence, precision and gravity, and reinforce Beechworth’s reputation overall as one of Australia’s finest wine-growing zones. This year we were selected to the annual ‘The Year in Review’ Chardonnay Report and blind tasting by John S. Humphreys, in collaboration with several reviewers from The Wine Front, the site where the report is hosted.

John’s report is a where-it’s-at of Australia’s premier Chardonnays, and essentially gathers all Chardonnays that have been reviewed by The Wine Front at 96 points or above in the preceding twelve months. This is the first time we’ve been included in this line-up.

“…It was also very encouraging to see producers such as Mark Walpole at Fighting Gully Road, Vignerons Schmölzer & Brown, Lance Parkin at Battles Wines, Patrick Sullivan and Mulline with Chardonnays in the Review line-up this year for the first time…and made very impressive debuts.”

Gary Walsh has reveiwed both our 2021 and 2022 vintages of Brunnen Chardonnay at 96 points. For the 2022 included, this was the middle of three consecutive La Nina years which were all cool and to greater or lesser degrees, challenging viticulturally. In 2022 this fruit was picked a day after Anzac Day. Fermented in French oak barriques, 25% new (Taransaud 136+). Full malo and monthly bâtonnage from June to January. Read more about the 2022 Brunnen Chardonnay here.

This review and subsequent report is a testament to the strength and consistency of Australia’s best Chardonnay, and Beechworth’s prominent place among them year-on-year. We are chuffed to be part of this year’s report. Read the full report here.

96 points

“This is just lovely. So lovely. It’s bright and intense, but kind of refined and calm too. It offers plenty of almond meal, light spice, fennel, grapefruit, pear and white peach, some floral notes, with a chef’s kiss of flinty struck match, but not much. It’s juicy, has such energy and cool acidity, but also flavour, some creamy richness, and fine chalky grip on a finish of superb length. Beautiful wine. And, because I love almond, in fact, I’m mad for it, it really gets me in. Yes.” Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.