We like to think that we are pretty good at white wine, largely on account of our long-term relationship with both Maison Verget and Kumeu River: these are two producers who punch way above their weight, making wines that will easily outclass some of the grandest names from the Côte d’Or.

Newer to Farr Vintners are the wines of Larry Cherubino, a first generation Australian of Italian descent whose Chardonnays have impressed us from the off.

The recent – and joyous for most of us – beautiful weather has had us all thinking of whites, so herewith three wines that will always work for the fridge door:

Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay is a staple for both us and our customers.  It is, quite simply, very hard to beat in terms of what it delivers for the money.  2023 was a tricky vintage at Kumeu though Michael Brajkovich and his team unsurprisingly came up trumps with a cool, bright and elegant wine, one that comes in at a refreshing 12.5% and that will have you coming back for a second sip.

Saint Véran, Vigne de Saint Claude can sometimes fall into the shadow of its Lieu Interdit counterpart, largely on account of the latter’s almost cult-like popularity with Farr Vintners customers.  This cuvée is invariably an excellent expression of the appellation, but in 2023 it seems to have something extra to it, an extra layer of minerality, an extra bit of edge. Jean-Marie believes that in 2023, it is the combination of the southerly exposure and the strict selection of first-press juice that sets Vigne de Saint-Claude apart or perhaps a particularly long fermentation.  Either way, it is an exceptional wine for just over £20 a bottle.

Finally: Larry Cherubino’s 2023 Pemberton Chardonnay.  Given the depth and breadth of quality that we have very well-covered with Verget and Kumeu, any potential new competition has to be very strong indeed.  When we first tasted his wines just over two years ago we were unanimously impressed and these are easily amongst the best Australian whites we can recall tasting.  His 2023 Pemberton Chardonnay is a cracker: a wine that achieves a quite remarkable balance of power, complexity and a Puligny-esque tension.