Kumeu River
Village Chardonnay, New Zealand
Village Chardonnay is produced from grapes grown in both Kumeu and Hawke's Bay. The wine undergoes partial barrel fermentation which provides some richness but very little oak in influence. Combined with tank fermentation, this allows the vibrant fruit to show through beautifully with lively lime and lemon aromas and a flinty, mineral edginess with hints of fig and white peach.
Produced from grapes grown in the regions of Kumeu and Hawkes Bay. The vineyard area between both regions covers 14 hectares. The vines were planted between 1989 – 2016. Clay soils in Kumeu; Limestone soils in Hawke’s Bay.
- Region
- Kumeu
- Appellation
- Kumeu
- Varietal Composition
- Chardonnay
- Aging
- 30% in neutral, 5+ year old barrels and 70% in stainless steel tank.
- Alcohol
- 13.41%
Beautiful fruit aromas, flavors, and concentration. The Rays Road vineyard in Hawke's Bay contributed to the final blend, imparting a distinctive limestone edginess. The moderate alcohol level provides freshness with a lovely flinty texture. Citrus elements of Chardonnay shine through, culminating in a refreshingly crisp acid finish. This wine is delightful as an apéritif and even better when paired with seafood.
Wine Advocate
92 Points
2024
"The 2024 Village Chardonnay had just been freshly bottled when I tasted it at the estate in Kumeu in March 2025. The other 2024 Chardonnays were tasted as tank samples prior to filtration and bottling soon. The wine leads with yellow citrus and crushed shells. It is texturally fine, sleek and tightly coiled around a core of salty acidity. It is complex but composed and very good. "2024 was a fantastic year, just very small," says Paul Brajkovich. "Weather during flowering wasn't good in spring in 2023," says Michael Brajkovich. "Ripening in 2024 was excellent, so we have a 40% down in yield but very high quality. The Village wine is a blend of Kumeu and Hawke's Bay [and is] a mixture of barrel and tank fermentation.""
— Erin Larkin, 2025
Kumeu River
Chardonnay Village Kumeu
Introducing Kumeu River Village Chardonnay
