Great Chardonnay pairings

Pair with: Roast salmon trout
Who doesn't love this unwooded Chardonnay from Robertson? It's also one of WCellar Nicolway wine consultant Bongani Ngwenya's favourites. The wine is fermented (with the wild yeasts that grow naturally on the grape skins) in underground cement tanks for between six and nine months. Bongani enjoys it most with roast salmon trout with potatoes and a herb dressing.

Pair with: Grilled chicken Caesar salad

Expect mouthwatering freshness and an array of aromas, from ginger to naartjie peel, in this world-class wine. The experts at Warwick describe it as mostly fresh and breezy with just a hint of oak. It's also the perfect partner for slamon fishcakes, Sunday roast chicken and fresh garden salads with creamy dressings.

Pair with: Roast chicken

Winemaker Danie de Wet from De Wetshof in Robertson says the grapes "thrive in the limestone and clay soils of our vineyards. It is this terroir which explains the chalky minerality on the nose with citrus and pear skin aromas." Woolies senior wine buyer Rebecca Constable says it's one of her top weekend wines. "I love a roast chicken dinner. Paired with Woolies' Signature Chardonnay, my Sunday is complete."

Pair with: Seafood and fish

This wine is named for the calcrete that's only found in the limestone-rich soils of the area between Robertson and Bonnievale. According to winemaker Philip Jonker, this lends the wine a brilliant minerality with the taste of gunflint and lime and a hint of sea spray. It's an irresistible match with all your favourite seafood, from oysters to grilled linefish.

Pair with: Chicken on the Weber

Packed with citrus and stone fruit, this wine from Elgin is the perfect match for smoky roast chicken. Woolworths senior wine buyer Rob Gower shares his secret: "Roast slowly in the Weber over a tray of water or beer, which keeps the meat succulent and gives crispy skin with subtle smoke infused through the flesh. The oily smokiness marries well with the oak and sweet yellow fruit notes."

Pair with: Mild butter chicken

Flavours of butterscotch, spicy clove and lime are balanced with a roasty oak finish. The grapes come from cooler vineyards at Jordan, with sea breezes and cooling mists from False Bay contributing to the unique flavour of the grapes. Jordan winemaker Sjaak Nelson says it's a great a match with buttery chicken dishes, including butter chicken. The wine handles mild spice well, so Sjaak also enjoys it with lamb curry.

Pair with: Chicken with coconut gravy

Chardonnay is best friends with creamy recipes from soups to pastas and is also an excellent match for cheese. This zesty, unwooded Chardonnay has a distinctive lemon and lime freshness. It's the perfect match for chicken in coconut gravy topped with toasted macadamias. Or pour it with mac 'n cheese or pasta with pancetta and crème fraîche.

Pair with: Tartiflette

Expect bright citrus, white stone fruit, oyster-shell minerality and a hint of brioche in your glass. It's a complex, well-balanced wine showing concentrated marzipan and citrus flavours, with underlying hazelnut and lime notes; the perfect match for the richness of a tartiflette – a classic French potato-onion-and-bacon bake.

Pair with: Crunchy stirfry with trout

This Woolies exclusive is beautifully crisp and dry. Woolies senior wine buyer Rebecca Constable loves it with a quick mid-week dinner. "I really enjoy the Woolies Bright and Crunchy Stir Fry Mix with easy-to-cook noodles topped with lightly smoked trout. Paired with the Woolies Lemon and Lime Chardonnay, it's a fresh and tasty combo."

Pair with: Oysters

This lively bubbly is one for all occasions. Expect the aroma of Granny Smith apple with overtones of brioche, crisp acidity and a creamy mouthfeel. Steenberg cellarmaster Elunda Basson recommends popping the cork when you're enjoying oysters, a seafood platter or even a cheeseboard.