Riebeeksrivier Chenin Blanc

Pair with mild seafood/shellfish, roast chicken or curries.

This is a range created in recognition of the Cape of Good Hope’s vinous heritage which stretches back more than 350 years when the first Governor of the Cape planted grapes. These unique wines are the result of irreplaceable parcels of old vines and site specific terroirs. The labels reflect the grape variety as well as the origin and singular characters behind them.

The farm is located on the slopes of the Kasteelberg, with views of the Swartland and the iconic Table Mountain. Its distinct terroir, particularly the Rhône-like shale soils, is powerfully expressed in the fruit, producing wines of exceptional character. Two bushvine vineyards planted in 1988 and 2013 on south-facing hillsides at elevations ranging from 350 to 400 metres above sea level produce fruit with exceptional intensity and flavour, balanced by bright acidity and length. The winter preceding the 2024 Chenin Blanc harvest was one of the wettest on record in the Western Cape, with heavy rainfall, strong winds, and widespread flooding in September. These conditions reduced yields in coastal regions, but they also recharged the soils, resulting in a unique growing season. The vines responded vigorously to the dry, hot weather that followed, resulting in an early and quick harvest start. The rapid pace intensified the season, but these conditions also allowed for impressive flavour buildup and concentrated fruit. The end result is a Chenin Blanc vintage with incredible depth, balance, and potential—a high-quality year that promises some exceptional wines with finesse and intensity.

10% of total blend was fermented and matured in new French oak. The wine spent 6 months on the fine lees before it was blended and bottled.

The grapes were handpicked and refrigerated before whole bunch pressing the following day. After overnight settling, 54% of the free run juice was transferred to stainless steel tanks and the rest to French oak puncheons and foudre where spontaneous fermentation occurred.