Pour a glass of this versatile, excellently balanced and very approachable Chardonnay from the team at McPhersons Wines, for friends, and the chances are you'll both be back for a second glass! Andrew McPherson has been in the industry for decades, he grew up in the world of wine and went on to work for some top names in Austalia before settling down to craft really characterful, great value wines like this one, under his own name. The team at McPherson Wines produce an excellent range across a diverse range of styles. "... they represent very good value across a range of labels. Winemaker Jo Nash has been at the helm for many years and co-owner Alistair Purbrick (Tahbilk) has a lifetime of experience in the industry. Quality is unfailingly good." (Halliday).

Displays classic Chardonnay characters of white peach, nectarine and fresh figs. The palate is fresh and vibrant with fruit flavours of citrus and white peach. Maturation in French oak provides subtle nutmeg and clove characters on the palate, while a clean slatey acid backbone provides length and structure to the wine. The wine is complex with no single character dominating the wine. The flavour of the wine persists long after it has left the mouth.

Attractive stone fruit and citrus aromas with complexity from maturation on fermentation lees. The palate is fine and long with persistent flavour supported by oak structure and length. Will drink well over the next 5 years.

Portugal offers wine drinkers terrific value in the wine drinking stakes, as well as an awe inspiring range of native grapes. The country’s winemakers are also adept at producing some cracking wines with international stars. Take Aluado from one of Portugal’s top names. José Neiva Correia is a doyen of Portuguese wine with many awards to his name. Having consulted for many of the country’s top cellars, he now has his own estate, and combines generations of tradition with an inquisitive spirit undimmed by decades of experience. Using grapes from vineyards close to the coast, Aluado has lovely ripe peach fruit balanced by a zing of stony crispness. Just what you want, as a glass on its own, or served with seafood, salmon or chicken dishes.

Customers invariably ask: "What's Blanc de Blancs Champagne and what makes it so special?" The Champagne region grows three grapes, two red – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – and one white ¬– Chardonnay. Blanc de Blancs is made only from Chardonnay and, as Hugh Johnson says, it therefore has "great grace and less weight than traditional Champagne". Laithwaite's is a tip-top example which for years has been expertly created for us by superb cellars in Avize, one of Champagne's finest villages. This particular cuvée is 100% Premier Cru vineyards and was matured for 30 months before release – double the required minimum – to ensure a really luxurious character. Showing complex white blossom, citrus and toasted brioche notes, it has great finesse, a very fine mousse, and the perfect amount of acidity to cut through a range of delicious canapés such as velvety chicken or duck liver parfait.

Jeff and Vicky Dewar established Willow Bridge Estate after acquiring a spectacular 180ha hillside property in the Ferguson Valley, a sub region of Geographe. Under winemaker Kim Horton, many of its wines offer exceptional value for money. James Halliday rated their beautiful winery among his ‘Best Wineries of 2014’ and ‘Dark Horse Wineries of 2013’ Their G1-10 Chardonnay is full flavoured, complex and textural, yet still lively and refreshing with refined tight grain french oak offering backbone support. Winemaking exudes minimalist technique to allow expression of site. Bright staw in colour. Lifted citrus, white peach, lemon blossom and almond with intriguing complex elements of fine French oak. A precise palate of harmonious oak teamed with intense stone fruit, citrus and flint like palate, with a long flowing texture leading to fine acidity and spiced oak nuances.

An excellent food wine, it matches well with just about any foods you might match a dry white wine to, but fresh white seafood dishes (white fish, squid, prawns & crabs) are perhaps the best accompaniment to this wine.

Fermented and aged in French oak casks for 10 months. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinctive greenish tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Aromas of ripe pear and nectarine are followed by hints of dried honey, biscuity oak, citrusy nougat and spice. Mid weighted and carrying a nicely fleshed feel, pear and nectarine fruits are featured over honeysuckle, biscuity nougat and spicy crème brulee characters. Gently creamed medium to long conclusion. Drink over the next 2-3 years. Alc. 12.5%

Fresh and vibrant Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay from Invivo’s Rob Cameron. For winemaker and co-founder Rob Cameron, the Invivo range is all about taking some of the elegance from the old world and putting that style into our amazing grapes, all the while offering wines that are fun and a bit unique. Rob has a colourful winemaking background – learning his craft in unique destinations such as Cyprus, Bulgaria and Hungary before moving on to France, Spain and Italy. He learnt skills (and some wild stories) from these places that few could compare.