“Ripe fresh citrus flavours. A creamy edge that adds depth from careful oaking which settles like a light silk scarf. A stunner.”

This is just one of the rave reviews for our newly released De Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay 2013, our first wine of origin Ceres Plateau.

The fact that the grapes for our Op die Berg Chardonnay come from a vineyard on top of the Witzenberg mountains, has special significance for us”, says De Villiers Graaff. “The family has a long history in Ceres, starting with my great uncle Dawie, and now cousin Pieter and brother Robert farming there. The area is unique in the Western Cape and a perfect terroir for chardonnay grapes.”

“While we grow chardonnay at De Grendel, the varietal was also exclusively grown for our Winifred white blend by apple farmer Pieter Graaff,” says Charles Hopkins, cellar master.

“The conditions on this apple farm proved to be perfect. Cultivated at very high altitude (964 m) in soft shale, together with very cold temperatures ideal for late ripening, the grapes captured all the positive characteristics of an outstanding chardonnay. It was simply too exceptional to be blended in, leading to our decision to focus on this wine, rather than continuing with the much-loved Winifred blend.”