Roving Sommelier is passionate about premium quality New Zealand regional wines. Man O’ War first came onto my radar in 2009 when I was working in collaboration with New Zealand Wine Growers in London. Man O’ War vineyard is located at the eastern end of the picturesque Waiheke Island and has become one of New Zealand’s premier boutique wineries. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic old-world techniques with innovative new-world ideas. The winemaking team is inspired by the greatest wines in the world to work with the broadest possible palette to blend world class wines that express the uniqueness of Man O’ War’s 75 vineyards.

Man O’ War Valhalla Chardonnay is part of the winery’s flagship range. When you make wine at this level you have to take it very seriously indeed, but that doesn’t mean you need to be serious when you drink it. Winemaker, Duncan McTavish sums up our Flagship range as serious fun.

The shining and golden hall in Norse mythology where the souls of fallen Viking warriors chosen by Odin feasted with the gods, the name Valhalla is conferred upon the finest barrels of Chardonnay selected each vintage by the winemaker.

Man O’War Valhalla Chardonnay is sourced from four vineyard sites at the Eastern edge of Waiheke Island, New Zealand.  Chardonnay fruit is sourced from two distinctly different terroirs; vineyards located on the mid slope of our steep hillsides which are predominantly rich clay-based soils and vineyards from our cooler elevated sites with light volcanic deposits in the soil. Hand harvested fruit is either gently foot stomped before pressing or whole bunch pressed directly to barrel for an un-inoculated ‘wild’ fermentation in 500 litre acacia (5%) or French oak puncheons. The wines are then left to evolve over the winter without disturbance of the lees before blending in the New Year into tank with fine lees and held for a further six months before bottling.

2020 Valhalla Chardonnay is a powerful yet beautiful white wine, full-flavoured, fruity, and complex with a long persistent palate and crisp finish. Perfect partner to all kinds of seafood, especially white fish such as Dover Sole, turbot, halibut, and lobster, when you want to push the boat out.