20 Best Chardonnay Under $30 (2022 Updated)

A good, crisp chardonnay (though my wife and I have had similar ones we like a bit better in the same price range: Courtney Benham and Ferrari-Carano come to mind). There are a number of restaurants in our area that carry Sonoma-Cutrer as their premium wine (at a far higher price than retail of course), and recommend it with their lobster dishes.

However, I would pass on this one with lobster (whether plain with drawn butter or lobster thermador). It is not rich or buttery enough for those, IMHO. We prefer Sonoma-Loeb Chardonnay (admittedly $8-$12 more per bottle) with our really special lobster dinner at home.

I’ve been drinking this Chardonnay for 25 years. It’s absolutely the best I have ever had and now my 3 children think so too! It is better than other Chardonnay’s $30-$40 more expensive which goes to show how overrated some other wines are!.

Notes from 4/7/2016 Vintage: 2013 Color: light green staw. Nose: kiwi and green apple with a bit of oak. Flavor: heavy green apple citrus, vanilla and butter, with a tinge of oak all immediately hit the tongue.

The flavor profile continues into the medium, with a bit more acidity leading into a decent, creamy finish. Medium bodied. 83 Points A bit of a fruity Chard. Easy drinking and a cheap date by all accounts.

A bit of a burn developed after drinking two glasses over 30 or so minutes.

Edna Valley Chardonnay is my favorite bargain Chardonnay. Total Wine offered a fantastic price and the shipping was outstanding! Even in these difficult times, the shipment arrived almost overnight!! Will absolutely be a repeat, happy, happy customer!! Thank you Total Wine!!.

I have enjoyed more recent vintages of this Chardonnay and found them to be a good value for the money. Not overly malo’d, not strenuously acidic. I grabbed a bottle out of habit without looking at the vintage.

If you like coastal Cali Chard’s try this wine, but avoid the ’18, it was one dimensional in contrast to the ’20 which shows better fruit and a generous body.

We have to be careful here because for white wines we are very much NZ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc people. We asked the Total Wines “expert” for advice on Chardonnays and were told that Sea Sun would turn out to be interesting and we would find it had a full character.

Exactly right. I wonder if a Chardonnay aficionado would really appreciate this wine as we were pleasantly shocked and really enjoyed this new experience So either an expert or newish to Chardonnay we say you should give it a try.

After chilling the bottle of Sea-Sun, I was looking forward to trying this wine. However, I am frustrated because I have been unable to remove the cork! The metal seal that secures the cork is stronger than a vault at Fort Knox! Even my trusted Gourmia bottle opener can not penetrate the cork’s seal.

I cannot offer a Rating because I have not tasted the wine. Will return the bottle.

Tried this as we are Chardonnay drinkers and looking for something comparable but a bit less expensive than Sonoma Cutrer, RRV. This is wonderful. If you like the RRV Sonoma, I would believe you would like this, its exceptionally well balanced.

Not too fruity, smokey or acidic. Very well balanced and smooth. Buying more now.

This is currently my favorite Chardonnay! Well balanced and a nice finish. Not too sweet or oaky … just right! (Do I sound like Goldilocks?). I generally favor California chards and this Russian River vintage has hit a home run for me!.

I was shopping for Chardonnay for my son’s wedding. I wanted a balanced wine to satisfy most palates without breaking the bank. After trying about six different wines I decided this was the one. Wedding is next month, fingers crossed that it is well received.

We were first introduced to this wine while we were dining at a local restaurant a couple of years ago, and the Wente rep happened to be there. He offered us each a glass and we liked it right away. A very good value for a medium bodied but not terribly buttery chardonnay that is refreshing and easy on the palate.

If there were an option, I would give it 4 1/2 stars.

Perfect for lighter dishes, like white sauced pasta and fish dishes. I serve mine chilled and have a blast in the summer with these! It’s crisp and consistent. You can find them at Safeway and the price is amazing and beats more expensive bottles! Must grab!.

I am mystified when I read reviews here, esp about Chardonnays. To some people, this is “not at all buttery,” to others it is “over the top” buttery. California Chards vary a great deal in terms of style.

Some aim to please the butter lovers, some aim to please people who want something bright and light. This Chard, which is apparently very popular, IS buttery (the result of exposure to oak, I believe).

I totally don’t understand how you can say it “lacks butter. ” I would say it is on the dark side, not light and bright. Though I think I prefer a Chard with a little more complexity to it, maybe a bit more lightness, But, bottom line, I think it tastes good! My friends and I are simple folk, I guess, but if you’re one of those who’s about to pour this Chard down the drain, why don’t you ship it to us instead!.

I am an avid Chardonnay drinker of wines. I love Kendall Jackson, Rombauer, Chauk Hill and all the other great Chardonnay’s (obviously different prices). Recently I was asked to try Butter Chardonnay and I have fallen in love with this oaky, buttery smooth tasting wine.

I highly, highly recommend everyone that’s a Chardonnay lover to give this wine a taste. I’m sure you will find it very pleasing as I did.

This is hands down my favorite chardonnay. I recently bought a $100. 00 bottle of a popular Russian River Valley chardonnay and the Butter blew it away. I also saved $75. 00. I love love love this chardonnay.

I hear their Napa Butter Chardonnay is really something special to drink.

This is a very good chardonnay and I love that it comes in a small bottle. This tends to be my go to. It’s also very inexpensive. The smaller bottle made it so much easier to pack in my luggage and enjoy a glass in my room.

It has such a smooth taste.

There is seemingly never quite enough oak in most Chardonnays to please me, but this makes up for that lack to some degree with an almost sweet lingering taste of tropical fruit with a nice round mouthfeel.

Better than the Firebrand and Firebrand Reserve but not quite as delectable as either the Iter or the Double Oaked River Road Chardonnays. Wine is, in the end, like art or perhaps like politics.

I like all types of Chardonnay and this one is among my favorites. If you like oaked Chardonnay, try this and you won’t be disappointed. Plenty of oaky taste, yes, but also vanilla notes and a nice fruity component from the grape.

Well balanced between crisp fruity apple, oak, and vanilla for a long lasting and satisfying finish. I like the wines from River Road and I look forward to buying more. Dependable and consistent brand.

Smell citrus, pear as (well as slight rose floral notes),surprisingly. I taste the oaked flavor immediately, but it’s not overwhelming. The wine is mildly sweet, medium bodied, smooth. I didn’t expect this taste from a chardonnay – but am loving it —would definitely recommend it & would purchase it again.

I don’t usually like Chardonnays, but I love this double oaked one!!.

We bought as a suggestion from one of the staff at Total Wines and More. It is absolute a winner especially for the price. It taste so much like Rombauer’s Chardonnay. We enjoy the full bodied oakiness of this wine.

Pairs well with everything, chicken, beef, pork. Just a really all around wonderfully delicious and enjoyable wine. Worth every bit of the cost.

I liked this unoaked chardonnay a lot last year. But what is in the store now is different and not nearly as good. It’s heavier bodied, sweeter, and more like a $10 chardonnay. We won’t be buying anymore.

I realize individual tastes are different, and this wine seems to fit the bill for many who review it. My tastes however run towards a more European style, leaner, dryer and light bodied. I’d recommend Prescription, Angeline, or Muirwood for California produced and Spier from South Aftrica or Quimay from Argentina if your tastes are like mine.

This review is for the 2021 vintage. Medium bodied. Peach and pear and honey on the palate. Unoaked. Stainless steel. Not overly dry. Appropriate acidity.

Let me start by saying that I’ve never been a fan of chardonnay. That sentiment changed when I tried Chablis and Unoaked River Road Chardonnay. This little gem of a wine is smooth with citrus notes and full-bodied without that ‘oak barrel’ aftertaste.

It’s perfect for pairing with fish, white sauce pastas, or a lazy day. Highly recommended.

I recently looked for an alternative to my usual creamy, buttery type of Chardonnay at Total Wines when Gary suggested I tried Prototype. He told me it was very creamy and at a good price. I told him I would try it.

I came back to the store in a few days and unfortunately they were out. It looks like others liked it too. I will look for it again when I return in a few days.

I’ve purchased this many times based on a friends recommendation. It’s a lovely every day Chardonnay. Good on its own and it Pairs well with lighter food.

Was surprised by this wine. Much better than expected… this is a steal! Buttery, very light on fruit. Honey stands out. My kind of chardonnay. Not fruity or acidic.

For the price, this may be the smoothest Chardonnay that is higher in buttery, vanilla notes, similar to those that have undergone malolactic fermentation such as Kendall Jackson and Chateau St Michelle.

If you like those two, then you almost certainly will like this one too, but at a much better price for every day table or summer refreshing wine tasting. Give it a try, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Enjoy!!.

I love this Napa chardonnay but the company seems to have discontinued it. I am very disappointed and perplexed as to why they would stop making it.

For some reason this wine is not being sold in California right now and is a favorite of ours, so we appreciated that it was so easy to purchase from your company. Thank you

This is a good middle of the road chardonnay option. You will frequently find this on restaurant menus because it is a solid performer. Not too harsh, not too mellow, not too dry, not too sweet. Just middling.

Price wise there are other chardonnays that I prefer but overall this isn’t a bad option at all. If you need a good hostess gift and don’t know what to do this is usually a good choice. I can drink this any time I see it so it’s not one I’ll avoid but I won’t get it for myself at home.

Decent wine. Current vintage is not my favorite, but will still buy it. A few years ago, this was an awesome white wine, now it’s ok, but have other favorites at the same price point.

We had this wine the other evening with a turkey dinner. It was recommended to me by a Total Wine store employee. It has a smooth rich flavor as opposed to some Chardonnays that have what I call a sharp, tangy flavor.

My 25 year old son was visiting with us and immediately exclaimed “delicious” when he had his first sip. My wife, who is not a Chardonnay fan, loved it too. It is a great value at less than $14 per bottle.

My wife said, “We need to write down the name of that wine”. We’ll definitely buy it again. Our thanks to the Total Wine employee who recommended it.

About 15 years ago, I found this wine while sampling different chardonnays between 7 and 20 dollars. I had been so disappointed in the chardonnays that I had been drinking that I set out to find a couple of brands that I would be happy with.

Couldn’t believe it but it made my list and I preferred it to much more expensive wines. It seemed to have disappeared off the shelves for years so I was happy to find it again at Total Wine. To be fare, this is an old style chardonnay that will not appeal to all chardonnay drinkers.

It is a full mouthful of flavor with a smooth buttery taste on the pallet. I would not call this a crisp wine like most of the chardonnays are now produced. This type of chardonnay seems to be out of favor now as it is difficult to find good ones.

Only other one that I found was the Harken barrel fermented chardonnay which is delicious but double the price. I alternate between the two which works out well.

We have tried many Chardonnays and Meridian is truly the best for value. Light, fresh and smooth it has the body of a wine priced 4 or 5 times the cost and it compatible with many California wines. It goes with anything.

It lacks the hardy oak flavor and is not overly dry. It is a perfect drinking wine.

I think this is one of the best value Chardonnays. It hasn’t been available for 2-3 month’s. I contacted the vineyard (5/2022) and they said they are out of stock at the vineyard! They expect to start shipping again in mid-late July 2022.

We are great fans of this wine and buy it when on offer. However, we were really disappointed with these three bottles. The taste and aroma were nothing like the normal Oyster Bay and we have had to pour it down the sink.

Unable to claim a refund as did not test all three bottles in five days. Did other customers find this ?.

I introduced this brand to my sister and I think her world just opened up. I love the crisp, dry flavor of this wine. It pairs well with fruit or cheese and, honestly, tastes like a very expensive wine for the money.

It’s also a crowd favorite so you can never go wrong bringing this to a friend’s house for a little girl sip and chat time.

We must have had an off bottle. When I opened it there was an ominous pop. Pinot Gris is one of our favourite wines. I haven’t bought this brand before and probably won’t again. It may just be this bottle but I won’t risk it again.

A good chardonnay is one of my favorite wines to enjoy. This one, is now one of my favorites – after trying it for the first time. It is no lightweight. A great golden amber color, lots of pleasing aromas, and a mouthful of smoothness, textures, and fabulous flavors.

This will now be one of my regular white wines. And a very fair price.

Full bodied Chardonnay with oak, vanilla and bright fruits. A lot like its much more expensive Lloyd’s big brother and Rombauer. A real bargain for a California style Chardonnay.

Hi–My understanding is that Lloyds was the purveyor of Butter Chard to Costco and many more outlets. Butter was my day to day go-to Chard. But Costco switched suppliers. Butter got much sweeter–my Chard cardinal sin.

So here’s Lloyd Prescription. Bought it in Phoenix, very good. Ordered it to home Chicago and it’s frickn’ too sweet.

It’s not bad for a cheap chardonnay. It’s a little more bold than the moscato, but still refreshing. Tastes of apple, pineapple, and white grape-ish. It’s a nice and relaxing wine to unwind with a glass and a favorite show or a book.

Around $9/bottle. A good buy!.

Great value. So much nicer to buy my wine on-line and pick it up. Prices are great and the selection is amazing. I’m a Cajun Chef and love the Gallo products for cooking and assisting the Chef, by the glass.

Great bottle of wine. Little more expensive than what I usually pay, but great for gift. Wine really does make a good gift. I love the more clearer wines the taste just seems to be better to me. Smooth flavor, great finish!! It’s worth it!!!! Enjoy❤️.

I bought this on a gift card from a friend. My selection was based on the staff recommendations and to say the least, I was very pleased. Actually, shared it with the friend that gave me the gift card and we both thoroughly enjoyed it.

So pleased I have gone back and purchased more to have on hand for special times. I tend to buy inexpensive wines at Trader Joe’s, but this is worth the trip.

I used to say ABC (anything but Chardonnay) Im not a buttery oaky Chardonnay fan. I want to taste the fruit , not wood or an excessive amount of malolactic fermentation. Olema Chardonnay is a beautiful crisp Chardonnay, balanced and affordable.

Love to have with fish and salads.

I just found a 2014 in my cellar and opened it. Really nice bouquet. And on the palate, all the beautiful chardonnay fruit flavors you want. Right down my alley style-wise. Citrus and green apples, etc.

with some oak in evidence. Good complexity for the money. Beautiful acidity — balance is just right for me. I do not prefer the flowery almost sweet style–they seem to me to get heavy and boring as I drink past the first glass.

This one is flavorful and lively and just right. Medium weight. Good finish for the money. I kinda remember that I liked it when it came out, but that is was maybe not “fully together” — in any event I think this wine really benefited from the bottle aging.

(I tend to like older wines, even chardonnays, and this one was really good–and a good value). I need to buy the current one and maybe put some away.

This California Chardonnay has hints of apple and just a tad tart. Honestly, for the price it’s a great value and well worth trying. I’ve paid more for Chardonnays and been disappointed with the taste.

Definitely worth your time tasting this one!.

I am a big fan of this Chardonnay and all of the other Low Hanging Fruit wines. The Chardonnay isn’t over oaked which I like. It pairs well with a variety of foods. It is a great everyday white at an affordable price.

I would compare this to much higher priced Chardonnays. Two thumbs up!.

This Chardonnay surprised me. When I purchase an inexpensive wine I have very few expectations. The first thing I noticed was the aroma/bouquet, ripe pear and maybe a hint of peach. Next, there is no complexity, but then again I was not expecting any.

But what I did find was an easy quaffing wine that is pleasant on the pallet. With a hint of vanilla which leads me to believe that it my have spent some time on oak. This wine would go well with chicken, veal, and fish.

This is an excellent wine! Rich and good mouth feel, especially for being an unoaked. Very low acidity so it doesn’t irritate a sensitive tongue. Great price point too. So happy I discovered this wine!.

I have always been a fan of pinot gris and sauvignon blanc varietals but somehow became bored with all my go-to’s. They were no longer a treat but a beverage! Eek! Lately I have a new love thanks to this quality unoaked chardonnay and generally speaking I don’t care for chardonnay.

One if it’s joys is it’s great alone or with cuisine. This is a staple wine at my gallery receptions because it seems to please all my white wine guests with it’s delicious balancing act. I never had a white that was so universal! It’s unbelievable value has me purchasing it by the case.

I assure you can’t go wrong with this Joel Gott.

We regularly buy four bottles to get the better pricing. Not highly acidic like most unoaked. Very mild and overall very good.