- By Brenden Robnik (27/09/2026)
The next leg of the Chardonnay Challenge has been run and won, and what a night it was. Thirty keen Sydneysiders packed into the indoor/outdoor charm of Bonython Cafe to spend an evening drinking, chatting, and arguing (in the best possible way) about some of the finest Chardonnay this country has to offer.
If you've been following this series, you'll know the mission by now: prove that Australian Chardonnay deserves a seat at the top table, and do it by pouring wines that actually show the breadth of what we're capable of. Sydney delivered on that in spades. The food pairings were top shelf, the room had that easy buzz you only get when good wine loosens people up, and the Chardonnays themselves did the rest of the talking.
A golden era for Aussie Chardonnay
One thing is as clear as the sky is blue: Australian Chardonnay has never been in a better spot than it is right now. We're talking world-class wine across multiple regions and multiple styles, from the tighter, more linear expressions to the richer, more textural styles that still somehow avoid feeling heavy-handed.
That diversity is exactly why this series exists. It would be easy to just wheel out the usual suspects from the usual regions, but the whole point here is to push past the obvious and show people there's a much bigger, more interesting map to explore. Judging by the reaction in the room, that message landed.
The results
Every wine on the table showed beautifully, which is no surprise given the calibre we're pouring in this series. But a night like this always throws up a few standouts, and this time they had a distinctly westerly lean. Something about Western Australia just seems to have Chardonnay figured out, because once again the state dominated the top of the leaderboard.
Here's how Sydney voted:
1. Pierro
2. Cherubino Pemberton Black Label
3. Vasse Felix Heytesbury
4. Giaconda
5. Singlefile The Vivienne
Take a moment to appreciate how tight that actually was. Of the 28 voters in the room, there were only around 25 points separating first place from last. That's an extraordinarily narrow spread for a lineup of this quality, and it says a lot about just how strong the overall field was. On another night, with a different crowd, this list could easily have shuffled itself into a completely different order.
Giaconda flying the flag from Victoria was a great reminder that this isn't a one-state story, but there's no denying WA is putting together a serious case for itself as this series rolls on.
One leg to go
That leaves just one stop remaining on the Chardonnay Challenge: Melbourne. And with the margins this fine across the board, there is genuinely everything still to play for. Can something from the east coast finally knock the WA contingent off its perch, or will Western Australia march into the final leg and reign supreme yet again? Sydney has thrown down a serious marker, but Melbourne crowds have a habit of backing their own.
A massive thank you
None of this happens without the right people in the room, and Sydney had one of the best. A huge shout-out to Vikki, an absolute legend of a Somm, who spent her night helping pour and clean up alongside me. Having a genuine professional in the building makes an enormous difference, and I honestly don't know how I'd have gotten through the night without her. Thank you, Vikki, truly appreciated.
Melbourne, you're up next. It's going to be a big one.