Capable of greatness and one of the few white varieties to have an affinity with oak, Burgundy's regal white grape, Chardonnay, bore the title of New Zealand's most widely-planted variety until that crown was usurped in the early 2000's by Sauvignon Blanc.
The fat, buttery expressions of NZ's yesteryear eventually fell out of favour, but Chardonnay has in recent years regained its standing as a new generation of Kiwi winemakers have embraced the wide range of stylistic possibilities contained within the grape, from the rich tropical flavours of our more temperate zones to the leaner, lighter, mineral-nuanced styles of the cooler South Island regions.
