Old Vine Steen

Shellfish, Spicy food, Lean fish, Mild and soft cheese

Chamonix Wine Farm is nestled against Mont Rochelle mountain deep within the rich wine-growing valley of Franschhoek in the Western Cape. Formerly part of historic La Cotte granted to the Huguenots in 1688 Chamonix today comprises some 300 hectares. German-born Chris Hellinger purchased the farm in the early nineties when it was predominantly an export fruit farm. With tenacity and vigor a replanting program began steadily replanting fruit trees with noble French varieties of vines and with an engineering background combined with old world principles an underground cellar was built. An underground passage leads one through the cellar up into the Blacksmith’s Cottage built in the late 1700s which now houses the Winetasting Room and Sales. Chamonix has around 50 hectares under vineyard. As purists we have always believed that to produce a wine of character containing all elements of grape unique terroir and process it is essential that only Chamonix grapes are used. Against the mountain our farm benefits from cool breezes during hot summer months and stony clay-rich soil giving our wines the unique personality and character which make up the Chamonix story.

Chenin Blanc grapes from the Franschhoek region, planted in 1965 on South facing slopes on Sandy loam soils at 350m above sea level. Only 1800 bottles produced. The Vineyard is OLD VINE certified.

The wine is kept in barrels for 7 months.

The grapes are handpicked. At the cellar the grapes are whole bunch pressed. Fermentation occurs in old 225ℓ French oak barriques and in a Ceramic egg. The wine remains on the lees up until bottling, the lees is stirred through the wine in what is known as batonnage.