Riverina Estate - 2009 Chardonnay

The Riverina Region of Southeast Australia accounts for 15% of all the country's wine production a year. Although it is a hot and dry region, wine production was started here around the early 1900's, and really found its mark in the 1950's when the area became a haven for Italian descendants. The wines followed suit, and to this day, rival some of Italy's best vintages.

This week's favorite: 2009 Riverina Estate Chardonnay
$8-12, online or through large wine suppliers

This Chardonnay was remarkably similar to the homemade white wines found during my travels to Italy. Unlike the buttery and fruity Australian Chardonnay wines we find so often, this one was bright, with flavors of apple and pear. It is dry and crisp, and very refreshing, very much like an Italian white table wine.

We served this wine with light appetizers at a cocktail party. It was delicious with the spinach and cheese puff pastries, fruit salad, and tomato caprese. Enjoy!

Chalk Hill - 2006 Chardonnay

The Chalk Hill Winery is located between the Russian River Valley and the Alexander Valley in beautiful Sonoma, California. Vineyards were planted there in the late 1860's, and because of the range of soils and minerals in this area, Chalk Hill Winery was able to grow many different varietals in one place. Chalk Hill got its name from the layer of chalk-colored volcanic ask that lies just beneath the topsoil, providing rich minerals to the vines.

This week's favorite: 2006 Chalk Hill Chardonnay
$15-20, local grocery or fine wine store

Chalk Hill Chardonnay is one of my father's go-to Chardonnays. While he usually likes them heavy on the oak, this one is a perfect balance of fruit, oak, and rich butter flavors. It starts off clean with bright flavors of lemon and pear, and then transitions to the warm, buttery flavors. It finishes clean with a strong, but not overpowering, woody oak flavor.

This wine would be perfect with a twist on a classic dish- Shrimp Alfredo. In a large pot, bring 6 bottles of regular beer to a boil. Add 4-6 Tbsp of Old Bay seasoning for a kick, and boil 2 pounds of large shrimp for 3 minutes. Remove shrimp from beer and add to linguine and Alfredo sauce. Top with fresh Parmesan cheese and serve. The spiciness of the shrimp will enhance the butter flavor of both the wine and the Alfredo sauce. Enjoy!

Greg Norman Estates - 2004 Chardonnay

In the late 1976, Australian golfer Greg Norman first visited California to represent Australia in the World Cup of Golf. While there, he soaked up the American culture, and discovered the wonderful wines that California had to offer. After much success in the 1980's and 1990's in golf, he began his estate by partnering with Berringer Blass to launch Greg Norman Estates, both in California and in his native Australia. Known as "The Shark" in the golfing world for his blond hair, large stature, and aggressive playing style, his golf enterprise carries over onto every bottle with his trademark shark logo.

This week's favorite: 2004 Greg Norman Estates Chardonnay
$14-17, local wine stores

This Eden Valley (Australia) Chardonnay is as bold as "The Shark". It is vibrant, with strong apple and pear notes, hints of citrus, and finishes fresh with the warm oak and vanilla that is typical in great Chardonnays. It is creamy and refreshing, and easily enjoyed after a few holes of golf.

This bottle would best be served with roast chicken breasts, stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and wrapped in prosciutto, plated with a warm mushroom risotto and asparagus.

Talbott - 2007 Logan Chardonnay

In 1982, Robert Talbott began his vineyards on a high mountaintop in Carmel, California, where cold temperatures and rocky terrain were not as ideal as the valleys in which other winemakers grow their fruits. After years of travel to France and Italy, he was determined to bring their wine making and flavors to the estate, and acquired the Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in 1994 for the lush fruits he could add to his wines. The Logan Chardonnay was crafted as a specialty Chardonnay in their line, and is named after Robert Talbott's son, Logan.

This week's favorite: 2007 Talbott Logan Chardonnay
$17-19, specialty wine stores or online

This bottle is a true treat for any "whites" lover. The smell and color of a true oaky Chardonnay, the wine is surprisingly fruity, with notes of pineapple and citrus. It has smooth notes of oak and butter, with a hint of vanilla. The finish is dry, but very refreshing, like a beer on a hot summer day.

This bottle can be served with grilled chicken breasts, marinated in a Caribbean jerk blend of spices, fresh garlic, and olive oil. Serve it sliced over a bed of cold romaine or butter lettuce and drizzle with homemade Caesar salad dressing.

Mirassou Winery - 2007 Chardonnay

For six generations and over 150 years, the Mirassou family has been making wines at their vineyard in the California Central Coast. The longer, cooler growing season allows the winery to develop more intense flavors from their grapes, and they harvest them in the early morning hours to preserve these flavors as the fermentation process is begun. The Mirassou Winery features a large selection of wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and some specialty vintages.

This week's favorite: 2007 Mirassou Winery Chardonnay
$7-10, your local grocery or wine store, discount wine stores

This bottle is a good bang for your buck! In preparation for our Anniversary Party, we purchased this wine in bulk as the Chardonnay selection for the evening. This medium bodied, creamy Chardonnay drinks like a $15 bottle. It shows a great balance of vibrant fruits with vanilla, but still has the earthy oak flavors typical of a good Chardonnay.

We served this wine with fresh fruit and vegetables, with a homemade Blue Cheese dip. Later in the evening, we had a sandwich bar, and this wine was perfectly paired with a turkey and bacon sandwich, topped with fresh sliced tomatoes and a bit of Greek Taziki sauce. A refreshing wine perfect for a light, summer meal!

La Crema - 2007 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

La Crema Winery is unique because they own five estates in distinct wine making regions of California. The cool winds off the Pacific Coast help produce delicious grapes for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah varietals from the Anderson Valley, Los Carneros, Russian River Valley, Monterey, and the Sonoma Coast. La Crema's presence in different regions uniquely allows them to make the same varietal, such as Chardonnay, five different ways.

This week's favorite: 2007 La Crema Chardonnay

$15-19, your local grocery or wine store

For Chardonnay lovers who like strong oak flavors, this wine is not for you. However, for those who love a good Pinot Grigio, this is the perfect light-bodied Chardonnay. Light and vibrant, it has strong citrus and apple flavors, a buttery middle, and a lingering finish with notes of vanilla and caramel. Certainly a perfect Chardonnay for a hot summer night!

This wine would be best served with seafood and other light summery dishes. I would pair it with fresh crab cakes served on a rich bed of butter lettuce, tomatoes, yellow peppers, and topped with a creamy cilantro lime dressing. You can also garnish the crab cakes with a spicy aioli to compliment the buttery and caramel flavors of the wine. Enjoy!

Carmel Road - 2006 Chardonnay

Years ago, before I could drink, my family visited a little seaside town in California called Monterey. At the time, my parents were just seriously getting into wines, and this area was not mainstream for good wines. Now, so many great wines come from the Salinas Valley and Carmel Valley in Monterey County. The cool Pacific air limits the types of grapes grown in this region, but over half of the grapes grown in this area are those used to make Chardonnay.

This week's favorite: 2006 Carmel Road Chardonnay
$16, Found at your local grocery or wine store

This Chardonnay is a beautiful mix of a fruity white wine with a true oak finish. It is smooth, with bright notes of citrus and floral flavors in the initial taste, and perfectly buttery in color. It ends with a mild, buttery oak flavor that makes it a chardonnay worth coming back to.

This chardonnay is best served with grilled white fish, such as black grouper or tilapia. Baste the fish in a mixture of 2 Tbsp of butter, 2Tbsp of lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp of garlic, with a pinch of salt and pepper before grilling. As a great topping, I like to combine 2 Tbsp of feta cheese, kalamata olives, sliced grape tomatoes, 1 Tbsp of lemon juice, 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, and a dash of garlic salt. Mix, and pour over fish fillet before serving. Pour yourself a nice glass of Carmel Road and enjoy the butter and citrus flavors of the meal!