Original Chenin Blanc

mild curry dishes / sushi / oysters

Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. That’s it. Since 2000 founder Bruwer Raats has kept his focus on these two varieties believing that specialising would lead to success. This belief was not unfounded as today Raats Family Wines is regarded as a leader of South Africa’s Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc receiving consistent local and international accolades. With Gavin Bruwer joining Raats’ side in 2010 the family affair has one shared mission: to consistently produce Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc of outstanding quality from South Africa and to establish these wines as international benchmarks. As the Raats philosophy continues to flourish new curated additions have been introduced along the way. This includes the well-received vineyard-driven B Vintners Vine Exploration Co. range and the single wine speciality bottling of MR De Compostella – an incredibly successful collaboration between Raats himself and fellow winemaker and long-time friend Mzokona Mvemve. Based in the winemaking capital of Stellenbosch Bruwer Mzokona and Gavin’s winemaking criteria is rigorous and includes the quality of grape soil climate topography and of course the impact of the human hand which together embodies the truest meaning of terroir.

Produced from vineyards with an average age of 35 years. Vines are grown in both decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone soils. Combination of trellised and bush vines, irrigated as well as dry land. Yield approximately 7 – 8 tons per hectare.

Aged on the lees for 6 months before bottling. No wood ageing.

Grapes grown from the two soil types are fermented separately, the decomposed granite bringing a lime and mineral character, while the sandstone more tropical fruit and structure. The juice was cold settled for 2 to 3 days, then cold fermented (14° - 16°C) in stainless steel tanks.