Wine Pick: McWilliams Appellation Series Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2013

This weekend’s forecast calls for sumptuous seafood and a perfectly paired bottle of white.

Tumbarumba is a wine region to watch. Located halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, its air and water are mountain pure, and its chilly growing region, cool sunshine, and high altitude allow for wines with fully developed fruit flavours and electric acidity. (Most of Australia’s tiptop chardonnays include some fruit sourced from here.) As a result, its wines—including this affordable gem—have a luminous golden hue, unleashing aromas of lemon oil, vanilla custard, and brown butter. The palate interplays rich citrus curd, spicy oak, and thrilling, succulent acidity.This wine offers a perfect reason to include Dungeness crab as part of your weekend dinner menu. (Simply steamed with garlic butter, or succulent crab cakes with a tangy peach salsa, or stirred into a creamy risotto—you choose!) Luxuriant crab pairs best with a rich white (with great acidity to lighten and brighten). This elegant chardonnay recently appeared on BC Liquor Stores shelves. At $19.99, it’s a steal.McWilliams Appellation Series Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2013$19.99Australia +526988