Stormwood's Chardonnay comes from a small, north-facing parcel near Waiheke's Whakanewha Regional Park, whole-bunch pressed into French oak. Expect stone fruit, green apple, spice and nuts, with great acidity and a fine-grained, refined texture. It's an elegant, food-friendly style of Waiheke Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is a smaller part of Stormwood's range alongside their reds, made from a single, carefully sited parcel rather than a broad blend of fruit. Winemakers Heinrich Storm and Michael Wood hand-pick the grapes and press whole bunches, a gentler approach that favours purity and texture over power.
This is a wine for someone who wants real complexity without heaviness - it has the layered, nutty richness of a barrel-aged Chardonnay, but stays fresh and refined rather than broad or buttery.
What it tastes like
Pale gold in the glass, with a multi-layered nose of spice, nuts, stone fruit and green apple. The palate carries great acidity and a fine-grained texture, finishing clean and refined rather than heavy or oaky.
The grapes are whole-bunch pressed into French oak barriques, 25% new, then left on lees before racking, blending and bottling - a process built to add texture and complexity without the fruit disappearing under the oak.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium to full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Bright and prominent
- Texture: Fine-grained, from lees contact and barrel fermentation
- Oak: French oak barriques, 25% new
- Style: Elegant, multi-layered Waiheke Chardonnay with real freshness
Food
This suits richer white-meat dishes: roast chicken with lemon and thyme, pan-seared scallops with brown butter, creamy seafood chowder, or a mushroom and parmesan risotto. A soft, washed-rind cheese also works well alongside it.
Who makes it
Stormwood is a collaboration between Heinrich Storm and Michael Wood, two winemakers who've worked together on Waiheke Island for more than a decade and have over 30 years of combined experience on the island between them. Storm, South African-born, has worked at Goldie Estate since 2008. Wood previously worked at Obsidian Vineyards, was named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year in 2017, and also makes the wine at Te Rere and Eventide. The Chardonnay comes from a small, north-facing parcel near Whakanewha Regional Park, tucked out of the wind - a different site to the pair's red-wine vineyard on the Owhanake Peninsula, chosen specifically for what it brings to this variety.
When to drink it
Most Waiheke Island Chardonnay in this style drinks well for 3 to 6 years from vintage, and Stormwood hasn't published a specific window for the 2023. Its bright acidity means it's already drinking nicely, with a little more time in the cellar to reward those who want to see it develop.
Technical details
| Winery |
Stormwood |
| Wine |
Waiheke Island Chardonnay |
| Vintage |
2023 |
| Variety |
Chardonnay |
| Vineyard |
Single parcel, north-facing, near Whakanewha Regional Park, Waiheke Island |
| Region |
Waiheke Island |
| Country |
New Zealand |
| Winemaking |
Hand-harvested, whole-bunch pressed, lees contact before racking and blending |
| Oak |
French oak barriques, 25% new |
| Serving temperature |
Best served chilled, around 10-12°C |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2023 is available via our winenz.com website. For delivery in New Zealand you can purchase from thewineryonline.co.nz. If you are visiting New Zealand, you can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine.
Questions we are often asked
What does Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay taste like?
Stone fruit, green apple, spice and nuts, with great acidity and a fine-grained, refined texture. It's an elegant, multi-layered style of Waiheke Chardonnay rather than a broad, buttery one.
How is Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay made?
The grapes are hand-harvested and whole-bunch pressed into French oak barriques, 25% new, then left on lees before racking, blending and bottling.
How long will Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2023 keep?
Most Waiheke Island Chardonnay in this style drinks well for 3 to 6 years from vintage. Stormwood hasn't published a specific window for the 2023, but its bright acidity means it's drinking nicely now.
What food goes with Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay?
Richer white-meat and seafood dishes: roast chicken with lemon and thyme, pan-seared scallops with brown butter, seafood chowder, or a mushroom and parmesan risotto.
Who makes Stormwood wine?
Winemakers Heinrich Storm and Michael Wood, who've worked together on Waiheke Island for more than a decade. The Chardonnay comes from a small, north-facing parcel near Whakanewha Regional Park.
Where can I buy Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2023?
The Winery ships Stormwood Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2023 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. It is also available in our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores.
