Missionvale Chardonnay

A creamy prawn stroganoff will complement the texture of the wine, while a simple Waldorf salad remains a favourite. Fresher styled cheeses, like grilled halloumi or chevre.

It’s been remarked before how the weather, during recent odd vintages, seems to behave to the benefit of local vintners. 2021 followed this pattern of 2019, 2017 and 2015. Yields varied significantly between cultivars and apart from a big rain event on 14 March, dry and cool conditions prevailed during picking. Phenolic ripeness outperformed sugar accumulation in the berries, resulting in juices with low potential alcohol and balanced natural acidities.

Widely planted and well respected for its low production of high quality fruit, the Missionvale is a singular expression of the 95 clone. Now an established component of the final blend, 6% was fermented and matured for 9months in amphora, the balance in French oak. Although a third of the barrels employed were new, a large proportion have a 350L capacity, therefore reducing the amount of oak extracted. Bottled with light filtration in February 2022.

One of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates lies in a scenic valley just an hour and a half from Cape Town called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. Framed by great fold mountains and breath-taking ocean views it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes. The promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by winemaker Chris Albrecht in slow-ripened flavour-rich wines of exceptional quality. Bouchard Finlayson is globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa as well as exceptional Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. The vineyards are surrounded by an indigenous floral conservancy alive with birdsong and wildflowers. Beyond the beauty of the farm itself you can discover the enchantments of the local area. Some of the popular attractions of nearby Hermanus include whale-watching; shark-cage diving; mountain hiking or biking; browsing art antiques and shops; and of course the white sandy beaches.