Marmite whites drinkers either love or loathe

CHARDONNAY is the Marmite of wines. It’s rare to find any other grape that polarises drinkers to such an extent. People seem to love or hate it in equal measure.

- by Matt Nixson

If you're not a fan of heavily oaked, buttery whites, some of the New World expressions can be overpowering. But this versatile grape - the world’s most widely planted white gets unfairly bad press in my opinion. It’s actually fairly neutral, taking on the characteristics of the soils, climate and winemaking techniques where it is produced.

French chardonnays from Champagne or Chablis tend to be light to medium-bodied and dry, with a refreshing acidity and plenty of green fruit and zingy citrus. Warmer climates produce wines with more stone fruit flavours and aromas. Hotter climates produce chardonnays with tropical fruits like pineapple, lychees and mango to the fore.