Chardonnay, Tormaresca 2025 75cl

An unoaked Chardonnay from Puglia that keeps things fresh and honest. Tormaresca is the Antinori family's estate in Italy's sun-drenched south, and this is their easygoing, fruit-forward take on the world's most popular white grape.

Puglia sits in the heel of Italy, where a warm Mediterranean climate ripens fruit generously. Rather than chasing weight, Tormaresca picks earlier and vinifies in stainless steel to preserve freshness, giving a Chardonnay that leans crisp and clean rather than rich and buttery. The Antinori pedigree shows in the tidy, precise winemaking.

Expect a pale straw colour and a nose of ripe pear, yellow apple, a little white peach and a floral hint. The palate is dry, light to medium-bodied and refreshing, with orchard-fruit flavour, a citrus edge and a clean, uncomplicated finish. There is no oak here, so it reads bright and immediate, more about easy drinking than complexity.

At around £15 it is dependable everyday value, the sort of white you keep in the fridge without a second thought. Drink young and well chilled.

How to Serve

Serve chilled at 8-10C in a standard white wine glass. No decanting needed.

Where to Drink It

Bancone in Covent Garden for a casual bite. Polpo in Soho for cicchetti. Franco Manca anywhere for a relaxed pizza night.

Food Pairings

Grilled chicken salad, or a plate of fritto misto.