The Pepik Chardonnay is the approachable, everyday expression from Josef Chromy — the name 'Pepik' being the traditional Czech nickname for Josef, and a signature of the range's informal, food-friendly character. Sourced from the Relbia vineyard in Tasmania's cool Tamar Valley corridor, this is Chardonnay made with restraint: prioritising freshness, precision and varietal clarity over oak richness.
The style is consistently bright and clean, with stainless steel fermentation preserving primary fruit character and a period of lees maturation building gentle texture and mid-palate weight. A small proportion of wild-fermented barrel-aged Chardonnay is folded in to add complexity and offset the wine's inherently fresh, fruity nature — a quiet nod to craft without compromising the wine's easy-drinking appeal.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale straw with bright green-gold hues, clear and luminous.
Nose: Fresh and inviting, with citrus blossom, white peach and lemon curd leading, followed by a subtle briny minerality characteristic of cool-climate Tasmanian Chardonnay.
Palate: Medium-bodied and precise, with lively natural acidity framing stone fruit and citrus flavours. Fine lees texture adds gentle creaminess to the mid-palate without weight or heaviness. Restrained oak influence, well-integrated.
Finish: Clean, crisp and lingering, with fresh citrus and a fine mineral thread carrying through to a dry close.
Winemaking
Chardonnay sourced from the Relbia vineyard, gently pressed and fermented in stainless steel. Matured on lees in tank to develop texture and complexity. A small wild-fermented barrel component is blended in to add interest and depth. Bottled to retain freshness and primary varietal character.
About Josef Chromy
Josef Chromy Wines is one of Tasmania's most celebrated estates, established by Czech-born Josef Chromy at the Relbia property near Launceston. The Pepik range — named in Josef's honour — represents the estate's accessible, terroir-honest tier, crafted to reflect Tasmania's cool-climate character in an approachable, everyday style.
