On the surface, Adrian Rodda's "Chardonnay Project" appears remarkably straightforward: it features three Chardonnays from three different Victorian regions, all vinified in the same manner. However, what you'll find in the glass is truly breathtaking. These three wines are stunningly individual and distinctive, showcasing more about the unique terroirs from which they originate than about Adrian's winemaking techniques. This illustrates the true skill of a winemaker: allowing the wines to express themselves and represent the hard work done in the vineyard to produce the best possible fruit.
Adrian began his winemaking journey in 1998 with David Bicknell at Oakridge, where his skill with Chardonnay became evident. He played a key role in creating the Oakridge 864 Chardonnay, a wine that significantly elevated Australian Chardonnay from the often clunky and overly lactic styles of the early 1990s.
In 2010, Adrian and his wife, Christie, moved to the Beechworth region and partnered with Mark Walpole at Fighting Gully Road. Their collaboration focused on the historic Smiths Vineyard, known for producing exceptional Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot since 1978. Adrian has been instrumental in maintaining the vineyard's esteemed reputation for quality.
In 2012, he launched the Chardonnay Project, collaborating with several prominent Chardonnay vineyards across Victoria. Thanks to his strong connections with Willowlake vineyard in the Yarra Valley, formed during his time at Oakridge and Beechworth's Smiths Vineyard in his new home, the wines produced under this project are vinified in the same way to highlight the diversity of terroir across Victoria. By 2017, he expanded his collection to include a single-vineyard Chardonnay from the Baxendale Vineyard in the King Valley, known for its high-elevation growing conditions.
The wines crafted by Adrian Rodda are distinguished not only by their exceptional quality but also by their ability to capture the unique characteristics of each vineyard. His three single-vineyard Chardonnays provide wine lovers with an opportunity to appreciate the intricate nuances of this variety.