We are taking advantage of the most recent arrival of cuvées from these two legendary grape varieties to take you on a (new) world tour of producers who stand out thanks to their reinterpretation of Burgundy classics.

Chardonnay producers 

Kumeu | North Island | New Zealand 
Croatian by origin, the Brajkovich family are masters in the art of making whites from Chardonnay in Kumeu, on the North Island. Their inspiration is Burgundian, adding vinification with native yeasts, aging on lees and malolactic fermentation in order to manage the acidity and strength of its wines.  An exceptional vineyard whose consistency and aging potential of its cuvées have often been praised by the famous “Master of Wine” Jancis Robinson. 

Catena | Mendoza | Argentina 
Argentina's leader in size and quality, Catena remains to this day the oldest property managed by the same family. Nicolás Catena believes in luck. At the origin of the first plantation on the Gualtallary side of Tupungato, this area is currently considered one with high potential in the country. Warned by many about the ripeness of grapes at altitudes of nearly 5,000 feet, his genius is now hailed. On these poor and rocky soils, drainage is easy, and the vines are constantly under stress. Cool nights allow very slow ripening of the berries, optimal acidity retention and low yields.  The Chardonnays produced here are world class. 
 
Giant Step | Yarra Valley | Australia 
In the portfolio of the Californian Jackson Family since 2020, Giant Steps takes its name from the eponymous album by John Coltrane, of which the owner is a fan, and from the qualitative metaphor behind the work produced by this estate over the years. Recognized as a benchmark in the country in the production of cool climate Chardonnays, this property was awarded the title of “Winery of the Year” by local authority James Halliday. Savouring the whites from the legendary vineyards of Sexton, Applejack and Yarra is treating yourself to the quintessence of Australian Chardonnay. 
 
Tolpuddle | Tasmania | Australia 
Split in half by the 42nd parallel south, Tasmania is the coolest region in Australia. Bordered by the sea, this island benefits from a temperate oceanic climate which distinguishes its elegant and digestible wines from those warmer and robust on the continent. With the firm intention of positioning Tolpuddle as one of the best producers of Australian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the Shaw + Smith duo, well known for their estate of the same name, offers refined and complex cuvées which continue to attract the spotlight and enthusiasm for this spectacular region at the end of the world. 
 
DuMol | California | USA 
Influenced by the proximity of the sea, the vineyards of the Russian River Valley benefit from fresh, humidity-laden sea air. A major advantage in a region as sunny as California, having the effect of offering a more harmonious maturity and finesse to varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Equipped with the most advanced technology, DeMol is one of the region's big names in the production of world-class Pinots and Chardonnay. There is a great consensus among wine critics on the high quality of the wines produced by this house. 

Pinot producers

Felton Road | Central Otago | New Zealand 
Home to the most southerly vineyards in the country – and the entire planet – the Central Otago region has a cooler climate, making it particularly suitable for Pinot Noir. Stewart Elms understood this well when he founded the estate in 1991. Distinguished by its steep and stony slopes, its biodynamic practices and the great finesse of its wines, this New Zealand property is an obligatory stop for any enthusiast wishing to go off the beaten paths of Burgundy. 
 
Burn Cottage | Central Otago | New Zealand 
Decorated with an intertwined snake and lily, testifying to the harmony between man and earth, Burn Cottage bottles are among the most popular in New Zealand. Producing mainly Pinot Noir, this property occupies 24 hectares at the foot of the Pisa Ranges in Central Otago. With little intervention, vinification and fermentation are carried out using natural yeasts and a minimum of sulfur. With a presence in the Wine Spectator top 100 and rave reviews from international critics, this address has carved out a special place for itself in the cellars of Pinot Noir lovers across the wine world. 
 
The Beaux Frères | Oregon | États-Unis 
Originally founded by brothers-in-law Michael G. Etzel and renowned critic Robert Parker, this property sits in the heart of Oregon's Willamette Valley. Taken over by the Henriot family group, the wines gradually abandon their modern and woody profile to gain elegance and precision. In order to guarantee the most natural expression possible and a direct connection to the terroir, the wines do not undergo any manipulation until they are removed from the barrel for bottling, all without fining or filtration. Tasting a Pinot Noir from this estate is a pure moment of happiness. 
 
Bodega Chacra | Patagonia | Argentina 
Nephew of the famous owner of Tenuta San Guido (Sassicaia) in Bolgheri, Piero Incisa della Rocchetta puts the qualitative family imprint on Bodega Chacra in northern Patagonia. On these limestone soils, necessary in a quest for elegance and expression, the team in place works miracles by delivering vintages that are the pride not only of Patagonia but of an entire country. Artificial fertilizers as well as toxic pesticides and herbicides are categorically prohibited. Biodynamic agriculture is favoured and according to the estate: “At Chacra, we believe farms are complex living organisms. Our approach to agriculture focuses on the balance of its overall development and the relationship between soils, plants and animals…”. 

Domaine Drouhin | Oregon | USA 
By shaping the soils of the Dundee Hills around thirty years ago, the Drouhin family not only opened the way for Jadot, Méo-Camuzet and other Burgundian rock stars, but they allowed lovers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to put Oregon on the world wine map. Here the entire production is planted, vinified and bottled on the estate. Véronique Drouhin does remarkable work at this address where Burgundian know-how gives a particular identity to the wines that those in the know love. 

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The best New World terroirs for Pinot and Chardonnay