Smuggled Vines Chardonnay

This flavour-filled wine ideally matches cheese and dried fruit, seafood and creamy pasta dishes.

Rolling morning fog and cool breezes during the hot summer months as well as one of the highest elevation sites in the Franschhoek Valley provide the optimal climate for this expressive Chardonnay. Stony clay-rich Greywacke soils give this wine its unique style, chalky minerality and natural acidity. The 2024 vintage was harvested on 14 February at 23° Balling, with remarkable natural acidity —a rarity in a warm season.

The fruit was crushed, pressed, and gently settled before fermentation in 300l French oak barrels, 12% of which were new, the rest up to four years old. A combination of natural and selected yeasts guided a slow, six-week fermentation, culminating in mid-April. Given the vintage’s vibrant acidity, one-third of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation, lending depth and balance. Weekly bâtonnage until May enriched texture, while maturation in barrel until December 2024 ensured a harmonious integration of oak, unveiling a layered and expressive wine.

Backsberg Estate Cellars is a family-owned wine estate located in South Africa's Western Cape, nestled between Paarl and Stellenbosch. The winery has a long history, dating back to 1916, when Charles Back purchased the farm. Today, Backsberg is recognized for its commitment to sustainability, family heritage, and producing high-quality wines.