Emmalene Chardonnay 2024

Wine review: Emmalene Chardonnay 2024

Recently, I was sent the Emmalene range to try, and the wines looked so good it was hard to know where to begin! I decided to kick it off with the Emmalene Chardonnay 2024, and I have to say it ticked all the boxes for me. This Chardonnay has 30% new oak with full malolactic fermentation, which delivers the lovely complexity I love about oaked Chardonnay, yet has a lively palate that makes it perfect for enjoying as the weather heats up. This is the kind of Chardonnay that’s just right, delivering bright and lovely notes with plenty of layers to keep things interesting. If you love the best of both worlds when it comes to your Chardonnay, you’ll love this wine!

From the first pour, the Emmalene Chardonnay 2024 has delicious aromas of warm brioche, juicy peaches and a pop of lemon, all wrapped up in a soft, velvety cream. The palate is just as inviting: rounded, balanced, and so easy to enjoy, with a lovely line of freshness that keeps everything in check. It’s the kind of Chardonnay that feels at home whether you’re opening it on a relaxed weeknight or sharing it with friends over dinner. Approachable, beautifully made, and leaves you wanting more sip after sip! Pair it with seafood, sushi or grilled chicken, or if you’re like me, a glass doesn’t go astray while you put up the Christmas tree!

About Emmalene

Emmalene is a heart-warming Adelaide Hills story about two families whose histories and passions just happen to intertwine. On one side, you have the Bartsch family, longtime growers who’ve nurtured fruit for some of the region’s biggest names. On the other hand, the Bulman family, talented makers who know how to coax the best from every grape. The name Emmalene appears in both family trees, a serendipitous link that now binds them as collaborators and custodians of these beautifully expressive wines. Together, they share a simple, honest vision: grow fruit that reflects the land, and craft wine that reflects the fruit. Grown by the Bartschs, made by the Bulmans—it’s a partnership that just makes sense.

All Emmalene wines come from four carefully tended Adelaide Hills sites each bringing its own personality to the range. Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword here; it’s the backbone of their farming. The vineyards are carbon neutral and powered by solar, nurtured with organic compost, permanent cover crops and even winter grazing to keep the ecosystem thriving. In the winery, the approach stays just as thoughtful, with minimal additions, gentle handling and low intervention guiding the process from fruit to bottle. The result? Naturally made, vegan-friendly wines that speak clearly of place, family and a shared commitment to letting the Hills shine.

Another fun thing about their labels, they are designed based off Tim Bartsch’s, the growers, Grans school art project from 1941.

You can learn more on their website.

Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.