The Brajkovich family is synonymous with the pinnacle of New Zealand Chardonnay. From their vineyards in Kumeu, north-west of Auckland, this esteemed family has brought the world Burgundian-inspired wines viewed through a distinctly New Zealand lens.

Now in its fourth generation, the family has spent eight decades refining a single-vineyard philosophy, expressed across three distinct sites: Maté's Vineyard, Hunting Hill, and Coddington. In 2015, London merchant Farr Vintners pitted four Kumeu River Chardonnays blind against premier cru and village white Burgundies from Leflaive, Lafon, Sauzet and Drouhin. Kumeu River won three of the four flights outright and tied for first in the fourth, against French wines that averaged around three times the price, a result that speaks to precisely what makes these wines worth seeking out.

From New Zealand. Among the best Chardonnay worldwide.