Behind the wines Articles

Chardonnay is the world’s most popular white wine grape variety and is grown in almost every wine-producing region. But Chardonnay wines can vary greatly, even though made from the same grape,  ranging from light and fruity to full-bodied and richly flavoured.

While a lot depends on where the grape is grown, the biggest difference in taste comes from whether the wine is oaked (aged in oak barrels) or unoaked. Here’s what you should know about Chardonnay and oak, and how to find the right style of Chardonnay for you.

We don’t need much of an excuse to pop open of bottle of bubbly here at Laithwaites HQ – and with World Champagne Day on Friday 27th October it seems even more fitting to delve into the illustrious world of Champagne.

Read on to discover the rich history of Champagne and some handy tips to make the most of this global day.

Many of you will know the great wines of this terrific Kiwi estate, their Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc in particular. They were the property that catapulted New Zealand Savvy onto the world stage in 1986. The catalyst? Taking a stand at our London Wine Festival and sweeping the board. They wowed both pros and customers alike. It made newspaper headlines and was raised in the New Zealand Parliament the next day.

We have been buying from this estate ever since – Jane and the team are like family. The winemaker is her older nephew, James, who, early in his career, joined us at Château La Clarière and also our winemaking headquarters in Bordeaux, Le Chai au Quai, for a few vintages. Judging by the impressive haul of awards they gain each year and the quality of the wines, he has a lot of talent. Jane’s younger nephew Edward is now General Manager and her brother-in-law, Peter, affectionately known as Big Mac, is the consultant director. You’ll often meet Jane’s sister, Libby, at our Wine Festival too – an ambassador for the cellar.

Meet Duncan Savage – one of the hottest young winemakers of the Cape. Critic Tim Atkin MW said of him, “Duncan Savage thinks he hasn’t hit his full potential yet. Heaven help his rivals when he does”! Yet, despite the praise he’s heaped with, he’s a modest guy, full of enthusiasm, passion and positivity. Even through Covid, with its added difficulties – no export sales for a time and, at one point, no domestic sales either. A beach ban was the nearest he got to a meltdown! 

He is the great guy behind the vibrant Hommage à B Syrah – a sensational red that only happened thanks to the support he received from Vineyard Partners. The wine is tribute to his great friend and grower, Boetie, who died only a few years back, far too young. Thanks to your support, Duncan can hold back the grapes from Boetie’s vineyard each year to make this fabulously sleek, pure-fruit Syrah … powerful, but elegant, more Côte-Rôtie than South African.