Chapel Down calls for a “Chardonnay Renaissance” with the launch of its new Chardonnay 2023

Building on Chapel Down's mission to 'change the way the world sees English wine', this new wine launch aims to challenge consumer perceptions of Chardonnay.

Misconception of Chardonnay is based on the heavily oaked new world styles of the 1980s and consumers have since moved towards other grape varieties in search of crisper, fresher white wines. However, thanks to a maritime climate and longer growing season in the South East of England, Chapel Down Chardonnay delivers a higher acidity and crisper flavour that is sure to surprise and delight wine drinkers across the country.

Launching in time for spring, 'Chapel Down Chardonnay' is the wine producer's first release from the excellent 2023 vintage. With notes of ripe apple and citrus with a creamy texture, this white wine is sourced from Chardonnay grapes grown in the Garden of England. Crafted with the same attention to detail as Chapel Down's best-selling Flint Dry and Bacchus white wines, this latest addition captures the fresh, crisp and fruit-forward style favoured by UK consumers. This refreshing wine is a perfect partner to grilled chicken, seafood linguine, or asparagus with poached eggs.

Josh Donaghay-Spire, Head Winemaker at Chapel Down said: “Chardonnay has struggled with consumer perception for over 40 years, but in fact it’s my favourite grape variety. The majority of our vineyard plantings are Chardonnay and this versatile variety features in the majority of our sparkling wines at Chapel Down giving it structure, weight and a unique sense of freshness. We’ve spent a long time building the quality perception of English wine and, as part of this, we're excited to introduce consumers to the quality of English Chardonnay. This new wine not only showcases the versatility and elegance of Chardonnay but also reflects our ongoing commitment to challenge perceptions within the wine industry.”

Guided by a world-class winemaking team with expertise in sparkling wines and cool climate viticulture, Chapel Down produces wines of exceptional quality, which will be seen in the new Chardonnay 2023 launch.

Beyond its exceptional wines, Chapel Down offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the vineyard experience. Located in the picturesque Kent countryside near Tenterden, Chapel Down invites guests to explore its vineyards and winery through guided tours offering the perfect experience to try its brand new Chardonnay.

Chapel Down Chardonnay 2023 (RRP £15.00) is available to order online at www.chapeldown.com. The wine can be ordered as a single bottle for £15.00, or with free UK delivery when ordering by the 6-bottle case for £90.00.