# Sparkling Chardonnay (NV)

- **Producer:** Chapel Hill
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Chardonnay
- **Region:** Balatonboglár, Hungary
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.0%
- **Average price:** €9
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 6–8 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apple, pear, peach, apricot, lemon, vanilla

## About this wine

Chapel Hill was established in the late 1980s by Balatonboglár Winery near the southern shore of Lake Balaton in Hungary. Created to produce fresh, modern Hungarian wines tailored for international export, the brand utilizes high-quality Chardonnay grapes grown across rolling lakeside hills in Transdanubia.

## Interesting facts

- Grown near Lake Balaton, Europe's largest freshwater lake, which creates a beneficial microclimate for sparkling grapes.
- Produced using the Charmat method to maximize crisp, fresh fruit flavours rather than heavy autolytic notes.
- Awarded Gold Medals at Chardonnay du Monde and named 'Best Value' in Scandinavian Monopoly tastings.

## Food pairing

The crisp acidity and lively effervescence cut through fried, rich, or salty textures, making it an ideal match for delicate seafood, fried appetizers, and light cheeses.

## Wine making process

Produced from 100% Chardonnay harvested from vineyards across Balatonboglár. Secondary fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel pressure tanks using the Charmat method to preserve vibrant primary fruit aromas and fresh acidity. The wine spends around four months in tank prior to bottling.