Primavera Vineyard Chardonnay
2025 Chardonnay
Yarra Valley, Victoria
$95.00
Halliday Wine Companion
"While Giant Steps has made a Primavera Pinot since '15, this is the first time the Chardonnay has made the cut as a single-vineyard wine. A very bright green gold. A powerhouse of a wine with its aromas of yellow apple, leatherwood honey, gunflint and a soupçon of fresh vanilla pod. It's a big mouthful on the palate, too, finishing with a refreshing bitter orange pith twist. This could handle lobster mornay or the like with ease! It'll be fascinating to watch this wine's evolution over the next six to eight years. Only 60 dozen made." - Philip Rich
97 points, July 2026.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2025
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vegan Friendly ✔
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13%
- pH 3.22
- Acidity 6.5g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 10 December, 2025
- Harvest Date 24 February, 2025
- Background Single Vineyard
- Vintage Notes Recognising the potential of this Hoddles Creek site, Lou Primavera planted Primavera Vineyard in 2001. Giant Steps has had a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, sourcing fruit from the vineyard since 2006. This small Upper Yarra vineyard includes two Chardonnay blocks: Bernard 76, planted in a sheltered pocket on the north-facing slope, and P58 on the south-facing slope. This wine comes exclusively from the Bernard 76 block, where incredibly low-yielding vines produce Chardonnay of concentration and power. Primavera Chardonnay shows the characteristic savoury perfume of the Upper Yarra, with notes of nuts and white miso, framed by bright natural acidity.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Woori Yallock Planted: 2001 Elevation: 240 metres Soil type: Red clay loam Aspect: North and north-east facing slopes Size: 12 Hectares Recognising the potential of this Hoddles Creek site, Lou Primavera planted Primavera Vineyard in 2001. Giant Steps has had a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, sourcing fruit from the vineyard since 2006. This small Upper Yarra vineyard includes two Chardonnay blocks: Bernard 76, planted in a sheltered pocket on the north-facing slope, and P58 on the south-facing slope. This wine comes exclusively from the Bernard 76 block, where incredibly low-yielding vines produce Chardonnay of concentration and power. Primavera Chardonnay shows the characteristic savoury perfume of the Upper Yarra, with notes of nuts and white miso, framed by bright natural acidity.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked from very small bunches, then whole bunch pressed. The juice was transferred by gravity directly to barrel with no settling. Wild fermented in two 500L French oak puncheons, with no malolactic fermentation. The final wine was blended from one seasoned puncheon and half of the new puncheon, then matured for nine months in French oak, 30% new and 70% seasoned, from Mercurey.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Halliday Wine Companion
"While Giant Steps has made a Primavera Pinot since '15, this is the first time the Chardonnay has made the cut as a single-vineyard wine. A very bright green gold. A powerhouse of a wine with its aromas of yellow apple, leatherwood honey, gunflint and a soupçon of fresh vanilla pod. It's a big mouthful on the palate, too, finishing with a refreshing bitter orange pith twist. This could handle lobster mornay or the like with ease! It'll be fascinating to watch this wine's evolution over the next six to eight years. Only 60 dozen made." - Philip Rich
97 points, July 2026.
Wine Details
- Region Yarra Valley, Victoria
- Vintage 2025
- Type White Wine
- Variety Chardonnay
- Vegan Friendly ✔
- Volume 750ml
- Alcohol Volume 13%
- pH 3.22
- Acidity 6.5g/L
- Closure ScrewCap
- Bottling Date 10 December, 2025
- Harvest Date 24 February, 2025
- Background Single Vineyard
- Vintage Notes Recognising the potential of this Hoddles Creek site, Lou Primavera planted Primavera Vineyard in 2001. Giant Steps has had a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, sourcing fruit from the vineyard since 2006. This small Upper Yarra vineyard includes two Chardonnay blocks: Bernard 76, planted in a sheltered pocket on the north-facing slope, and P58 on the south-facing slope. This wine comes exclusively from the Bernard 76 block, where incredibly low-yielding vines produce Chardonnay of concentration and power. Primavera Chardonnay shows the characteristic savoury perfume of the Upper Yarra, with notes of nuts and white miso, framed by bright natural acidity.
- Vineyard Notes Location: Woori Yallock Planted: 2001 Elevation: 240 metres Soil type: Red clay loam Aspect: North and north-east facing slopes Size: 12 Hectares Recognising the potential of this Hoddles Creek site, Lou Primavera planted Primavera Vineyard in 2001. Giant Steps has had a long-standing relationship with the Primavera family, sourcing fruit from the vineyard since 2006. This small Upper Yarra vineyard includes two Chardonnay blocks: Bernard 76, planted in a sheltered pocket on the north-facing slope, and P58 on the south-facing slope. This wine comes exclusively from the Bernard 76 block, where incredibly low-yielding vines produce Chardonnay of concentration and power. Primavera Chardonnay shows the characteristic savoury perfume of the Upper Yarra, with notes of nuts and white miso, framed by bright natural acidity.
- Winemaking 100% handpicked from very small bunches, then whole bunch pressed. The juice was transferred by gravity directly to barrel with no settling. Wild fermented in two 500L French oak puncheons, with no malolactic fermentation. The final wine was blended from one seasoned puncheon and half of the new puncheon, then matured for nine months in French oak, 30% new and 70% seasoned, from Mercurey.
- Peak Drinking / Cellaring Potential Now - eight years
Kind Words & Accolades
Brightly fruited, with vibrant acidity that gives the wine freshness and energy.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 95 points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 
A class act to drink now and over the next four to six years.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Chardonnay
An excellent Sexton to drink now and over the next six to eight years.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points, July 20262025 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay
As good a Giant Steps entry point as I have tasted.
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir
A step up on last year's Circle of Fifths
Philip Rich - Halliday Wine Companion, 96+ points, March 20262025 Giant Steps Circle of Fifths Pinot Noir
A more concentrated and brooding Primavera.
Philip Rich - Wine Companion, 97+ points, July 20262025 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir
Not sure I've tasted a better Applejack Pinot, which is saying something.
Philip Rich - Wine Companion, 98+ points, July 20262025 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir