Make A Toast To Chenin Blanc With This Barrel-fermented Wine From Stellenrust

There’s no denying that South Africa produces the best Chenin Blanc wines, which, under a warmer climate, becomes fuller and more complex than its French counterparts. 

This is particularly true of barrel-fermented wines, such as the Stellenrust 54 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc from the country’s prime wine-producing area Stellenbosch.

Grapes for this wine is harvested from a 54-year-old single vineyard of Chenin Blanc planted in ironstone on the slopes of Bottelary Hills. The number on the front of the bottle refers to age of the vines in the year the wine was made.

Even though warmer temperatures than normal occurred during the 2018 harvest, hanging time was in line with other vintages. 

Once the grapes arrive at the cellar, the juice is drawn off into a special selection of barrels and allowed to ferment naturally. During the time, winemaker Tertius Boshoff makes sure that oak is used in a restrained way in order to add complexity and character but without dominating the flavours of the grape. Fermentation took roundabout 8 months to finish and the wine was kept on the fermentation lees for an additional 1 month in 90% French and 10% Hungarian oak.

This Chenin will compliment an array of dishes, from orange infused duck confit to lemon infused Norwegian salmon.

It’s not all about the oak though. For a lighter, more refreshing and more wallet-friendly version, try the Stellenrust Chenin Blanc from the winery’s premium range.