Xanadu Chardonnay 2006 750ml

Winery: Xanadu

Varietal: Chardonnay

There are few white wine grape varietals as famous or widely appreciated as the Chardonnay, and with good reason. This highly flexible and adaptable grape quickly became a favorite of wineries due to its fairly neutral character. This neutrality allows the wineries to really show off what they are capable of doing, by allowing features of their terroir or aging process to come forward in the bottle. As well as this, most high quality wineries which produce Chardonnay wines take great efforts to induce what is known as malolactic fermentation, which is the conversion of tart malic acids in the grapes to creamy, buttery lactic acids associated with fine Chardonnay. Whilst the popularity of Chardonnay wines has fluctuated quite a considerable amount over the past few decades, it seems the grape varietal allows enough experimentation and versatility for it always to make a successful comeback.

Region: Margaret River

The region of Margaret River is a beautiful part of south west Australia, and has proven to be one of the most versatile and successful wine regions in the country. Many experts have claimed that the climatic conditions of Margaret River are remarkably similar to those found in the Bordeaux, several thousand miles away in France. As such, it should come as no surprise that many Bordeaux varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon thrive well there, and grow to full ripeness in the blazing sunshine, thus expressing plenty of delicious fruity flavors. Currently, Margaret River has around fifty thousand hectares under vine, and this coastal region boasts over a hundred and fifty wineries, which produce up to twenty percent of Australia's wines.

Country: Australia

Despite much of Australia being covered by dry, arid deserts and bushland, the southern regions of the country and islands such as Tasmania have proved to be ideal for vineyard cultivation and wine production. The fertile soils and brisk oceanic breezes, coupled with the blazing Australian sunshine allow the grapes to grow to full ripeness before a late harvest, resulting in hugely flavorful wines which appeal to a wide international audience. Combine this with the experimental and daring approach Australian wineries have in regards to wine production, and it becomes clear why Australia has relatively quickly become something of a world leader when it come to exporting their produce to Europe and America. The Shiraz and Chardonnay grape varietals have produced the most successful and broadly appreciated results over the decades, however, in more recent years wineries have begun experimenting with a much wider range of grape varietals, demonstrating how Australian wineries are continuing to adapt and develop alongside international palates.