Lake's Folly Chardonnay 2024

Lake’s Folly is a testament to the visionary spirit and dedication of its founders. Established in 1963 by Dr. Max Lake, the winery was the first boutique vineyard in the Hunter Valley and remains one of the most respected names in Australian winemaking. Today, under the stewardship of Peter and Lee Fogarty, and with the expertise of winemaker Rodney Kempe, Lake’s Folly continues to craft its two flagship wines—Cabernet blend and Chardonnay—with unwavering attention to detail. The focus on producing small quantities of premium, estate-grown fruit reflects the estate’s commitment to quality over quantity, allowing each wine to showcase the unique terroir of the region.

The philosophy behind Lake’s Folly is simple yet profound: great wines come from great vineyards. With over 50-year-old vines, the estate’s terroir—characterised by a rare combination of volcanic hill, alluvial creek flat, and south-easterly aspect—provides the ideal conditions for growing world-class wine grapes. The philosophy also embraces sustainability, ensuring that every step of the winemaking process, from vineyard management to bottling, is done on-site to express the true character of the land. Through traditional winemaking techniques, including handpicking, open fermentation, and French oak maturation, Lake’s Folly wines are crafted to be elegant, complex, and capable of aging gracefully. This approach results in wines with clarity of structure, finesse, and the hallmark length and persistence that Lake’s Folly wines are renowned for.