Akarua is now owned by Edmond de Rothschild Heritage and this wine comes from 30-year-old vines in Bannockburn, Central Otago. It was fermented in French oak barrels and sandstone amphorae. Peach, pear and quince lead the palate, and the wine is dry and ripe.
In the glass it shows a pale golden straw colour, with melon, citrus blossom, brioche (a buttery bread) and flint on the nose. The finish is long.
It is a dry Chardonnay for anyone who likes ripe fruit with freshness and a touch of oak, and it would pair well with roast chicken or pan-fried fish.
Akarua means "two vines" in Māori.
What it tastes like
This wine has a dry, precise attack that opens into a ripe, generous middle. Lemon curd and subtle oak sit alongside the fruit, and the richness is balanced by freshness.
The wine was stirred weekly on its lees (the spent yeast left in the barrel) for about 7 months, a technique that builds texture. Give the glass a swirl and the aromas open out.
Style at a glance
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh, balancing the ripe richness
- Oak: French oak, 30% new, adding subtle oak character
- Style: Dry, ripe, precise
Food to enjoy this with
- Roast chicken with lemon and thyme
- Pan-fried fish with brown butter
- Scallops with cauliflower puree
- Creamy mushroom risotto
- Brie or other soft, creamy cheeses
- Pumpkin soup, because the ripe fruit matches its natural sweetness
Who makes it
Akarua is in Bannockburn, Central Otago. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were the first two varieties planted on the estate.
This Chardonnay comes from 3.7 hectares of vines with an average age of 30 years. They are planted on light-textured alluvial soils over schist bedrock. Akarua practises regenerative viticulture and is converting to organic.
For the 2025 vintage, the fruit was hand-picked on 27 to 29 March, whole bunch pressed and settled overnight. It was fermented in French oak barrels, 30% of them new, and in three 1000-litre sandstone amphorae (large stone vessels). The wine then went through malolactic fermentation, which softens the acidity, and was stirred weekly for about 7 months.
About the vintage
Akarua reports an early November frost and variable, La Niña-influenced conditions in 2025, with harvest running from late March to late April.
Writing in Decanter, Emma Jenkins (Master of Wine) reported that spring frosts reduced yields in Central Otago. She quoted Valli winemaker Jen Parr describing a harvest lasting around half the usual span, and wines with richness from small berries and clean fruit.
When to drink it
Akarua describes the wine as having excellent ageing potential through 2030.
Technical details
| Winery: |
Akarua |
| Wine: |
Akarua Chardonnay 2025 |
| Vintage: |
2025 |
| Variety: |
Chardonnay (100%) |
| Region: |
Bannockburn, Central Otago |
| Country: |
New Zealand |
| Vineyard: |
3.7 hectares, average vine age 30 years |
| Soils: |
Light-textured alluvial soils over schist bedrock |
| Harvest date: |
Hand-picked 27 to 29 March 2025 |
| Fermentation: |
French oak barrels and sandstone amphorae, with malolactic fermentation |
| Oak: |
French oak, 30% new |
| Alcohol: |
13.5% |
| Cellaring: |
Excellent ageing potential through 2030 |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Akarua Chardonnay 2025 is available from our winenz.com website. For delivery within New Zealand, buy it from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. On both websites and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines, and if you are visiting from overseas, we can ship it home for you.
Questions we are often asked
Where does Akarua Chardonnay 2025 come from?
It comes from Akarua's vineyard in Bannockburn, Central Otago. The vines cover 3.7 hectares and average 30 years old.
Is Akarua Chardonnay 2025 oaked?
Yes. It was fermented in French oak barrels, 30% of them new, and in three 1000-litre sandstone amphorae. Akarua describes the oak character as subtle.
What does Akarua Chardonnay 2025 taste like?
Akarua describes peach, pear, quince and lemon curd, with stone fruit, melon and citrus blossom on the nose. It is dry and precise, and the finish is long and persistent.
How long can I cellar Akarua Chardonnay 2025?
Akarua says it has excellent ageing potential through 2030.
How much alcohol does Akarua Chardonnay 2025 have?
The alcohol is 13.5%.
Where can I buy Akarua Chardonnay 2025?
The Winery ships Akarua Chardonnay 2025 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. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
