Chardonnay is the most versatile white wine grape in the world. It travels well, as the glorious examples from Hawke's Bay & Marlborough attest. However, France is the spiritual home of Chardonnay with famed white Burgundies at the very top of the pyramid.

However, those top Burgundy Chardonnays often cost hundreds of dollars a bottle, so we thought it was about time we put together a collection of great French Chardonnay that you can drink up without burning a hole in your pocket! All these wines have been selected for their gently oaked, fruit filled personalities overflowing with French zesty ripeness and charm.

Collection Includes:

2 x Domaine Lafage 'Novellum' Chardonnay 2017 (France)

Awarded 92/100 points: Jeb Dunnuck 

"A sensational wine that will compete with wines five times the price. The perfect balance of fresh acidity, ripe fruit & a touch of minerality. Coming from 100% Chardonnay that was aged on Viognier lees, the 2017 Vin de France Novellum boasts sensational notes of ripe citrus, white flowers, and spice, with loads of classic Catalanes salinity and obvious minerality. Aged in 15% new barrels, it’s medium-bodied, has remarkable purity, integrated acidity, and is a total steal at the price. Drink it over the coming 2-4 years" Jeb Dunnuck

Winemaker Jean-Marc Lafage is simply one of the greatest names in value-driven wines from France. This new collaboration with importer Eric Solomon just adds to the legacy.  They conceived this gorgeous Chardonnay as a counterpart to the extraordinary red blends Lafage is known for, and it represents one of the best white wine values coming from anywhere in the south of France.

Seal: Cork

2 x Fortant Terrior D’Altitude Chardonnay 2017 (France)

Awarded Gold Medal: Gilbert & Gaillard 2019

Awarded 91/100 Points & 4.5 Stars: Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"Wonderfully fruited and inviting, the wine shows golden peach, baked fig, nougat and cedar characters on the nose, leading to a succulent palate that is fleshy and creamy. Flavoursome and expansive, the wine offers gorgeous richness, well supported by fine texture and refreshing acidity. At its best: now to 2021" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

The winemaking mission at Fortant de France is to make classic Grand Cru style wine at a good value price. Hence this beautifully poised, elegant white. It’s crafted very much like a high quality white Burgundy, yet the fruit is from the Languedoc. The Languedoc being warmer produces rich, round peachy Chardonnay, not a million miles from a good kiwi Chard. It’s a silky-smooth, long and fruit-forward, a total crowd-pleaser, absolutely over-delivering at this price.

Seal: Cork

2 x Villa Blanche Chardonnay 2018 (France)

Awarded Silver Medal: Chardonnay du Monde 2019

Recommended: Decanter World Wine Awards

Just landed, the brand new vintage of perhaps New Zealand's biggest selling and most loved French Chardonnay...

Over the past 5 years this wine has won a swag of Gold Medals and the hearts and minds of many kiwi drinkers. Very bright and clear, pale green-yellow hue. Expressive stone fruit aromas along with a hint of bitter almonds. The wine is full, well-balanced, fresh and fruity with notes of mango and fresh apricot. This is brilliant value stuff.

Seal: Screw Cap