There are many reasons to love wine. Perhaps it is as straightforward as enjoying the taste, perhaps you have an appreciation for its age-old traditions or you might be charmed by the whole world of culinary culture. And then of course there is the fascinating ceremony that comes with wine. You can easily turn the top and pour a glass or... you can take your time selecting the right wine for the occasion or meal, cool to the ultimate temperature, open with care, pour into a specific glass and then swirl.
Oh that swirl....
And there is one wine that swirls better than most - Chardonnay!
When it comes to Chardonnay, the swirl is something to behold. Chardonnay's lovely golden colour makes for a sensational slow swirl - especially when the wine is swaying against the sides of a varietal-specific Chardonnay glass.
If you have not yet experienced the satisfaction of the slow swirl, join us in the La Motte Tasting Room during April and May. You can swirl your Chardonnay and fall in love with the curves.
But of course, the swirl is about more than the visual feast, it actually has an effect on the taste of the wine. Watch Chardonnay In Every Sense
Wine Folly explains it very well: "Since most of the enjoyment of wine comes primarily from aromas, swirling the wine will aerate it slightly, releasing more of those aromas." It is all about releasing the intricate variety of tiny aroma compounds that float on the evaporating alcohol to our noses.
And the "right" wine glass is not about pretence, it is about aroma! You can't swirl well in a tiny glass and some wines need more swirling than others. Chardonnay with its complex aromas perform exceptionally well in a large glass with a wide bowl. The wine can breathe, the texture can soften, balancing the acidity while the released aromas are concentrated towards the tapered rim where your enjoyment of the wine continues from visual to aromatic to taste.
At La Motte we use Riedel Chardonnay glasses for the ultimate swirl, aroma and taste. Having said that, we believe Chardonnay's swirl is about more than the vessel and we invite you to share your swirl with us regardless of the glass you use. Just enjoy, share the #slowswirl and stand a chance to win 6 bottles of La Motte Reserve Chardonnay and two Riedel Chardonnay glasses, valued at R2500.
What to do:
Upload a short clip of your swirling Chardonnay on Facebook or Instagram. Make sure to follow and tag @lamottewine and use "I love the #slowswirl of La Motte Chardonnay!" in your description. The winner will be announced on 1 June 2026. The prize will be delivered nationwide. T&C's apply.
Take the swirl to a next level with our delicious Chardonnay-friendly recipes with a swirl!
