Celebrate International Chardonnay Day with Stunning Canadian Wines from Coast to Coast – As aired on CFRA News Talk Radio – May 22, 2025

May 22, 2025 | By Matt Steeves | Featured on CFRA Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal

Chardonnay lovers, rejoice! Today, on International Chardonnay Day, we raise a glass to one of the most beloved and versatile grapes in the wine world—and shine a spotlight on the exceptional Chardonnay being produced right here in Canada, from Nova Scotia to British Columbia.

On this special edition of Ottawa at Work with Patricia Boal on CFRA News Talk Radio, I had the pleasure of chatting with Patricia about why Chardonnay is the #1 planted white grape globally, why it’s a favourite for both winemakers and wine drinkers, and why Canada’s cool-climate Chardonnay deserves your full attention. Check out our full interview here!

Why Chardonnay?

Chardonnay is the ultimate shape-shifter of the wine world. It thrives in both warm and cool climates and can be made in a wide range of styles—from crisp and mineral-driven to rich and buttery, and everything in between. It’s also a core grape in traditional method sparkling wines like Champagne.

What makes it even more exciting today is the rise of cool-climate Chardonnay—wines with freshness, structure, and natural acidity. As wine lovers increasingly seek elegance and balance in their wines, Canada’s terroir-driven Chardonnays are gaining well-deserved international attention.

Why Canada?

Canada’s wine regions are uniquely suited to produce world-class Chardonnay. Our modest growing-season temperatures help grapes ripen slowly and evenly while preserving that signature zesty acidity.

What’s beneath the vines matters too: marine sedimentary soils rich in calcium carbonate—especially in places like Niagara and Prince Edward County—contribute to the minerality and structure that define great Chardonnay. These ancient seabeds help vines dig deep and express their unique terroir in every bottle.

From Nova Scotia’s maritime freshness to the sun-drenched slopes of BC’s Okanagan, Canadian Chardonnay is elegant, expressive, and ready for your glass.

Five Stunning Canadian Chardonnays to Try Right Now 🍾

Let’s take a coast-to-coast Chardonnay tour with five exceptional bottles:

1. Blomidon Estate Winery Chardonnay 2022 – Nova Scotia

Blomidon’s 2022 Chardonnay is a fantastic example of maritime-influenced cool-climate winemaking. Grown on the slopes overlooking the Bay of Fundy, this wine blends fruit from various blocks—including the estate’s original “Old Block,” planted in 1996. A combination of stainless steel and barrel wild fermentations, with partial malolactic conversion and lees aging for 12 months, gives the wine a delicate complexity. Expect fresh green apple, lemon zest, and salty sea breeze minerality—an ideal match for local shellfish and oysters. Tasted May 2025. 92+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca
$29.95 (winery-direct – releasing soon)

2. Rosehall Run JCR Chardonnay 2022 – Prince Edward County, Ontario

From the limestone-laden soils of Prince Edward County, this small-batch Chardonnay is precision-crafted and mineral-focused.
$35.80 (winery-direct)

Matt’s review: The 2022 vintage of Rosehall Run’s flagship JCR Chardonnay is a compelling expression of Prince Edward County’s cool-climate potential and limestone-rich soils. On the nose, it’s immediately clean and lifted, offering zesty Russet apple, fresh-cut orchard pear, and a whisper of citronella-tinged florality. A gentle creaminess emerges with air—hints of creamed corn and marzipan lending roundness without overshadowing the wine’s linear drive. The palate is taut and mineral-charged, with the County’s signature limestone influence showing in both texture and tone. Flavors of green apple skin, citrus oil, and a touch of almond paste play across a mid-palate that’s as refreshing as it is complex. The finish is long and sapid, marked by salty minerality and persistent echoes of orchard fruit. Elegant, precise, and food-versatile, this is a Chardonnay that captures the tension and finesse that have made Prince Edward County one of Canada’s most exciting terroirs for cool-climate whites. Enjoy now with grilled trout or cellar for 3–5 years to watch its mineral core deepen. Tasted May 2025 – 92+ points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

3. Domaine Queylus ‘Réserve du Domaine’ Chardonnay 2022 – Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

Crafted from carefully selected parcels on the Niagara Peninsula, this wine is powerful yet refined. Aged in high-quality oak barrels, it’s a Chardonnay that delivers depth and elegance in equal measure.
$48.50 (winery-direct)

Matt’s review: This is a confident, full-bodied Chardonnay that beautifully captures the sophistication of Niagara fruit and winemaking. From the glass, it opens with inviting aromas of ripe yellow apple, summer meadow, banana chips, and lemon meringue pie, supported by gentle toasted oak and a lift of linen breeze. On the palate, it’s creamy and richly textured, yet balanced by zesty orchard fruit and a vibrant thread of limestone minerality that adds focus and freshness. The oak is well-integrated, framing the fruit without overpowering it. There’s a distinct lemon tart finish that lingers and refreshes. This is a Chardonnay that marries richness with refinement—equally suited to food pairings like butter-poached seafood or roasted poultry, or enjoyed on its own for its sheer presence and poise. A standout effort from Domaine Queylus, and a benchmark for Ontario Chardonnay. Tasted May 2025. 93+ points – Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

4. Thirty Bench Small Lot Chardonnay Extended Barrel Aged 2021 – Beamsville Bench, Ontario

Hailing from one of Niagara’s premier sub-appellations, this extended barrel-aged Chardonnay is opulent, silky, and impeccably crafted. The Beamsville Bench’s unique terroir—characterized by clay-rich soils and limestone bedrock—shines through in the wine’s complexity. $36.00 (winery-direct)

Matt’s review: This is a beautifully poised, terroir-driven Chardonnay that speaks with quiet confidence and Burgundian grace. From the first swirl, the nose is lifted and detailed, offering delicate stone fruit, orchard fruit, pear, crisp apple, and a subtle brush of floral and mango tones, all underlined by a vibrant limestone minerality that immediately evokes the Beamsville Bench. The palate is where this wine truly shines: zesty citrus, wet stone, and fine spice unfold in a layered, elegant profile. There’s superb freshness and restraint, with lightly toasted oak framing — not masking — the wine’s complex fruit and lively texture. The result is a Chardonnay of precision, finesse, and quiet power. More in the style of fine white Burgundy than a common New World expression, this wine showcases what the Bench does best: elegance, freshness, and completeness. A top-tier effort from Thirty Bench and a strong statement on the potential of Niagara Chardonnay. Tasted May 2025. 94+ points. Cellar-worthy, but compelling now. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

5. Burrowing Owl Chardonnay 2022 – Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

This bold and beautifully ripe Chardonnay is grown on the Black Sage Bench in Oliver, BC—known for its warm days, cool nights, and gravelly soils. These conditions allow the fruit to develop richness and concentration while retaining freshness. Available winery-direct $35+

Matt’s review: This impressive Okanagan Chardonnay from Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is yet another shining example of the world-class wines emerging from Canada’s Wine Capital. Nestled along the Black Sage Road in Oliver, BC, Burrowing Owl continues to craft expressive, terroir-driven wines that reflect the unique climate and soils of their estate vineyards. While the 2022 vintage began with cooler-than-usual conditions, it ultimately ranked among the top six warmest growing seasons on record. Remarkably, the wine retains the hallmark freshness of that cool start—an attribute that adds vibrancy and elegance.

In the glass, it shows a pale golden yellow with glints of green. The nose is delicately perfumed with vibrant citrus, crisp pear, yellow apple, lemon tart, and a whisper of jasmine tea and dessert herbs. On the palate, it’s full-bodied yet incredibly poised, with an elegant creaminess and mouthwatering acidity. There’s a beautiful layering of orchard fruit, lemon curd, and yellow apple, accented by subtle wood spice and framed with finesse. The oak is restrained and expertly integrated, lending gentle structure without overshadowing the purity of the fruit. Compared to richer vintages—those expressing golden apple, hazelnut, and butterscotch—the 2022 is more lifted and aromatic, showcasing precision and energy while still delivering the creamy, layered texture for which Burrowing Owl is known. Pair it with grilled seafood, roast poultry, or autumn squash bisque. This is arguably the most elegant Chardonnay yet from Burrowing Owl—ready to enjoy now, or worthy of cellaring for 5+ years to reveal further complexity. Tasted May 2025. 93 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Available winery-direct $35+

Whether you prefer your Chardonnay lean and citrusy or rich and round, Canada has something for every palate—and these five wines are a brilliant place to start and great options for celebrating International Chardonnay Day.

Mark Your Calendar: The 15th Anniversary of i4C 🍾

Chardonnay fans: don’t miss the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration (i4C) this July in Niagara! This year marks the 15th anniversary of this incredible weekend-long festival featuring 50+ wineries from around the world. Expect grand tastings, vineyard lunches, winemaker dinners, and a full-on celebration of what cool-climate Chardonnay is all about.

More info at www.coolchardonnay.org

Drink Local, Celebrate Global 🎉

To explore these wines and more Canadian wine picks, visit www.topwines.ca
📱 Follow Matt on Instagram: @QuercusVino

Happy #ChardonnayDay, Canada!

Cheers!

Matt

Tags: #ChardonnayDay #CanadianWine #CoolClimateChardonnay #i4C25 #DrinkLocal #CFRAOttawa #TopWinesCanada #Chardonnay #SommelierPicks