The Adelaide Hills Wine Region has announced the return of its month-long Chardonnay celebration, Chardonnay May, highlighting the popular varietal through a series of wine experiences hosted in cellar doors across the region.
Alex Trescowthick, President of Adelaide Hills Wine Region, spoke about the return of the festival, which is now in its fourth year.
“As the state’s premium cool climate wine region, the Adelaide Hills is the source of South Australia’s most sought-after Chardonnay. During May, we invite everyone to taste an outstanding Adelaide Hills Chardonnay at your favourite bar, restaurant or bottle shop. Most of all, we hope you will visit at least one cellar door and talk to the people behind these stunning wines.”
Throughout the month, Adelaide Hills wineries will unveil their new release 2023 Chardonnays, and most notably, Tilbrook Estate will reveal its new Reserve Chardonnay, which marks the first release since the 2019 bushfire.
Special wine tastings will be held at cellar doors throughout the region for the month of May, with wineries such as Murdoch Hill, Ashton Hills, Lofty Valley Estate and Howard Vineyard all offering tasting flights that demonstrate how the wine develops over time.
Past vintages will also be on offer, available at the Somerled cellar bar by the glass, and with rare back vintages opened for one weekend only at Tappanappa, known as the birthplace of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay at the Tiers Vineyard which was planted in 1979.
A number of ticketed events will also take place over the course of the month, such as the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay Heroes dinner which highlights Adelaide Hills Wine Show trophy-winning Chardonnays, and the French-inspired Chardonnay May À la Française party at Simon Tolley.