Driftwood Estate Single Site Chardonnay 2023

Trophy, Best White Wine - 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Western Australian Wine - 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards

Driftwood Estate is a boutique winery set in the stunning Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River. The estate is spread over 100 acres of undulating rich grape growing country, just a stones-throw from the Indian Ocean. The maritime climate, fertile soil and attention to detail in the vineyard combine to produce amazing fruit with strong varietal characteristics. The flagship Single Site Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon showcase the best of Driftwood Estate. 

"Okay, this stacks up as the best chardonnay yet from Driftwood. Displays the subtle understatement of the style and the site, but then you start to explore the complex aromas of cut lime, lemon, quince and richer crème brulee. The palate then kicks in with its embedded richness coming from regular lees stirring. A most impressive and exciting chardonnay development for Driftwood."  Ray Jordan

"Handpicked estate grapes, whole cluster pressed and wild fermented displaying complex layering of tart citrus, fresh white peach, quince paste, vanilla flower, and crushed walnuts. The palate has a creamy texture with primary citrus and stone fruit flavours with a superb length balanced by natural saline mineral acidity and the highest quality French oak."  Driftwood Estate

Expert reviews

"Okay, this stacks up as the best chardonnay yet from Driftwood. Displays the subtle understatement of the style and the site, but then you start to explore the complex aromas of cut lime, lemon, quince and richer crème brulee. The palate then kicks in with its embedded richness coming from regular lees stirring. A most impressive and exciting chardonnay development for Driftwood. Cellar 10 years."  Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan Wine - 97 points

Awards

Trophy, Best White Wine - 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Chardonnay - 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards
Trophy, Best Western Australian Wine - 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards

About the winemaker

Driftwood Estate’s winemaker Kane Grove was born in Mandurah in the south west of WA. He moved to Margaret river when he was eight and after completing senior high school at Margaret River, he was employed at Leeuwin Estate where his father worked at the time. He was soon recruited into the cellar where his passion for wine began! He progressed through the ranks and became Cellar Supervisor in 2003.

The urge for more life experience saw him travel extensively throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 2005, before returning to Leeuwin Estate. In 2007 Kane he started full time study for a Bachelor of Environmental Science at Edith Cowen University.

Kane was lured back to wine in 2010 to work at Howard Park Wines, before taking up a cellar master position at Naturaliste Vintners - a premium custom crush facility in Margaret River. To further his career, he completed his Graduate Diploma in Oenology at Curtin University whilst working full time at Naturaliste Vintners. He became assistant wine-maker at Naturaliste Vintners in 2012 and worked in this role for 6 years before taking the position of wine-maker at Driftwood Estate in December 2017.

His winemaking philosophy is simple – quality wines are made in the vineyard. While winemaking can have a positive input, having premium quality fruit is essential. "As a winemaker you can make good wine from lower quality grapes but you can really make exceptional wine from high quality grapes. My job is to capture the personality and individual expression of each batch of fruit and let it shine with minimal interference."

About the winery

Driftwood Estate's iconic amphitheatre and vineyard

Driftwood Estate is a boutique winery set in the stunning Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, Western Australia. Established by Tom and Helen Galopoulos in 1989 on what had previously been a country retreat, the estate is spread over 100 acres of undulating rich grape growing country, just a stones-throw from the Indian Ocean.

The winery immediately received acclaim when its first wine, a Semillon produced in 1993, won a special commendation in a British competition. By 2009, leading Australian wine writer James Halliday rated Driftwood Estate as one of the best wineries in the Margaret River region. The winery has continued to flourish, receiving numerous awards, culminating with a recent triple trophy win at the 2024 Perth Royal Wine Awards for their Single Site Chardonnay.

The maritime climate, fertile soil and attention to detail in the vineyard combine to produce amazing fruit with strong varietal characteristics.  Wines are released under 4 labels: Single Site, Artifacts, The Collection and Oceania. The Single Site range of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon showcases the best of Driftwood Estate. 

Kane Grove has been winemaker since December 2017. His winemaking philosophy is simple – quality wines are made in the vineyard. While winemaking can have a positive input, having premium quality fruit is essential. "As a winemaker you can make good wine from lower quality grapes but you can really make exceptional wine from high quality grapes. My job is to capture the personality and individual expression of each batch of fruit and let it shine with minimal interference."