This is another standout from Restless River Vineyards, the family-owned estate in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley that’s built a reputation for some of South Africa’s finest cool-climate wines. Home to some of the region’s oldest chardonnay vines, its award-winning, single-vineyard wines prove exactly why chardonnay remains the world’s most loved white grape.
Why we love it:
Restless River’s Ava Marie has become something of a cult favourite, offering bright citrus, a flinty mineral edge and just enough oak to keep things interesting. Precise, elegant and wonderfully restrained, it’s a chardonnay that rewards slow sipping. Pair it with grilled line fish, a classic herb-and-butter roast chicken with lemon and garlic, or a creamy fettuccine finished with crispy sage butter, and call it a very good evening.