2024 Ara Single Estate Chardonnay, Marlborough

Ara Single Estate Chardonnay is a bright, modern expression of Marlborough Chardonnay, shaped by cool climate precision and a clear focus on purity and balance. The fruit comes from Ara’s estate vineyards in the Wairau Valley, where free draining alluvial soils, abundant sunlight and cool nights allow Chardonnay to ripen evenly while retaining freshness and natural acidity. These conditions favour a style that sits firmly in the fresh, mineral driven end of the spectrum rather than overt richness, making it an excellent reflection of contemporary Marlborough Chardonnay.

Ara was established in the early 2000s with a strong emphasis on sustainability and site driven winemaking, and the Single Estate range highlights fruit grown exclusively from its own vineyards. Chardonnay is handled with care to preserve varietal character, with selective harvesting, gentle pressing and carefully judged use of oak and lees to add texture without overshadowing the fruit. The 2024 vintage delivered vibrant, clean flavours and excellent natural balance, ideal for a fresh yet expressive style.

In the glass the wine shows a pale straw colour with green tinges. Aromas are lifted and inviting, offering white peach, nectarine and citrus peel, supported by subtle hints of melon, almond and a light flinty note. The palate is crisp and finely textured, delivering stone fruit and citrus flavours framed by bright acidity and a clean, mineral finish. It is highly food friendly, pairing beautifully with grilled fish, roast chicken, seafood, creamy vegetable dishes and soft cheeses. While designed to be enjoyed young for its freshness and clarity, it also has the balance to develop gently over three to five years, gaining more savoury and nutty complexity with time.

Ara Single Estate Chardonnay is an approachable yet well crafted Marlborough Chardonnay, offering freshness, texture and regional clarity in a style that is both versatile and unmistakably New Zealand