Situated roughly halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, and nestled in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, is Tumbarumba. With the Kosciuszko National Park lying just to the east, and the Murray River winding its way through the landscape to the south, the region is perfectly placed for grape growing. Tumbarumba enjoys the coolest climate of any of New South Wales' wine growing regions, making it perfect for producing its signature varieties.

Spread over around 250 hectares, Tumbarumba's vines are well known for their excellent chardonnay and pinot noir grape varieties, producing high-quality white and red wines for consumers across Australia. Grapes have been grown here since 1982, and Tumbarumba has also become known for its fine sparkling wines, as well as its cool climate.

2017 marked the debut of Trentham Estate’s Tumbarumba Chardonnay, showcasing the superlative results that can be achieved in such a landscape. The grapes were grown at high altitude, on an eastern sloping vineyard at the base of the Snowy Mountains National Park. Handpicked in mid-March and whole bunch-pressed, this exceptional quality fruit was partly fermented in stainless steel tanks before being transferred to barrels of French oak for six months ahead of blending and bottling.

The results were nothing short of astonishing. A light straw-green coloured wine with lifted white peach fruit and subtle toasted oak nuances, the Tumbarumba 2017 vintage chardonnay pairs excellently with seafood dishes. Its persistent and clean flavours display the ideal balance between fruit weight and cool climate crispness.

The wine has already received Bronze medals at the 2018 International Wine Challenge and the 2017 Royal Hobart Wine Show. With refinement and elegance in abundance, this is beautifully poised chardonnay, perhaps a great one for your cellar, if you can resist the temptation for long enough.