It’s Chardonnay Day 2026! Naturally, this calls for a glass of South African Chardonnay and whilst there are ample options to choose from, I’ve got some remarkable suggestions…

Le Riche 100% Chardonnay 2024

A recent Le Riche tasting, hosted by Vinimark at Pretoria’s popular SMOKE Restaurant, served as a welcome reintroduction to the brand. They might be predominantly focused on reds – Cabernet Sauvignon specifically – but the wine they served as welcoming drink was an exquisite, single vineyard Chardonnay from a farm called Eendracht – one of Le Riche’s oldest producers. This wine – golden in colour – was the perfect drink to kick off the tasting, setting the mood with its forthcoming aromas and fullness. This wine is very limited in stock, but if you do get your hands on one, grab it and savour it this Chardonnay Day!

Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2023

Also hosted by Vinimark, Glenelly offered a glimpse of its wines – including a beautiful Chardonnay – at a recent luncheon at Prosopa Restaurant. The luncheon was technically in celebration of the latest vintage of the estate’s Lady May – a wine that serves as a nod to the estate’s owner, May de Lencquesaing (or Madame, as she is also known), who recently turned 101. She was adamant to produce a South African Bordeaux-style blend that could stand alongside any Bordeaux blends from France and I’d like to believe that she’s succeeded in her mission to do so. Still, the Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2023 has no reason to stand back. Bright and crisp in colour, this 100% Chardonnay is a firm reminder of beautiful autumn days and the complex nose of quince, citrus peel, lime and butterscotch caramel with hints of pear drop make for a long, round, textured finish on the palate.

Jordan Nine Yards 2024 for Chardonnay Day 2026

This limited edition flagship wine is a Chardonnay that serves as a culmination of the synergy between soul and soil. As it says on the bottle, it’s “the ultimate expression of the Jordan terroir.” The wine is a barrel selection of the finest Chardonnay vineyards on the Jordan Estate, aged sur-lie for 9 months in 228l oak barriques. Flavours of butterscotch, spicy cloves and limy citrus prove that they really went ‘the whole nine yards’ with this wine, which is perfectly balanced by a full, rich mouthfeel and a toasty oak finish.

Migliarina Chardonnay 2025

It’s been said that 2025 is a vintage to keep tabs on and this Elgin Chardonnay by Carsten Migliarina is proof. Lightly wooded and fruit driven with an open and sophisticated style, the wine was crafted to offer wine lovers a glimpse into the most inspiring vineyards of South Africa. Only 8727 bottles of this wine were produced, making it a sought-after wine worth purchasing. On the nose, you’ll find hints of vanilla, lime and pistachio, whilst oak and fresh acidity and a long, lingering finish please the palate.

Celebrate Chardonnay Day 2026 with Groot Constantia Chardonnay 2024

From the oldest wine farm in South Africa – a farm established by a man’s love of wine – this Chardonnay opens with expressive aromas of pineapple, baked apple and pear. A creamy texture on the palate, balanced by vibrant acidity, allows layers of citrus zest and tropical fruit to slowly unfold as you sip. It’s an elegant and well-rounded wine with that classic Constantia expression of freshness, depth and lingering power.

South African Chardonnay is often celebrated for its old-world elegance combined with vibrant, new-world fruit. Like the Chardonnay Association of South Africa says: “South African Chardonnay is World-Class Chardonnay. Not because it offers value. Not because it is ‘emerging.’ But because the wines themselves demand a place in the global conversation where they compete with the best of what the world’s Chardonnays have on offer.”

South African vineyards come with ancient soils, dramatic shifts in climate, coastal influence, elevation and a spirit of innovation unburdened by rigid tradition. This allows local winemakers and producers to craft wines of remarkable precision, energy, texture and authenticity, and these suggestions are just a few examples of such wines.

I hope you get to celebrate Chardonnay Day 2026 with your favourite Chardonnay, whether it’s a mineral-driven style shaped by cool maritime conditions, or a layered, cellar-driven Chardonnay with depth and structure. Happy Chardonnay Day!

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