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.

Cold and exceedingly wet conditions occurred during flowering and berry set late in 2021, pushing the onset of the harvest season ever later. The ripening season of January2022however, saw some of the hottest and driest conditions that have been recorded over the past seven years; the rainfall received for this period was atypically low.This allowed for a long, healthy ripening of a concentrated crop.Minimal disease pressure and dilution resulted in the production of fruit of an outstanding quality, in which full phenolic ripeness and refreshingly low natural sugar accumulation was expressed.

A systematic evaluation of our Chardonnay vineyards’ indigenous yeast population, delivers promising results with 40% of the barrels in this wine completing fermentation un-inoculated. Spontaneous onset, assisted by late inoculation with locally sourced organically grown natural yeast, is responsible for the balance of alcohol conversion. Now an established component of the final blend, 8% was fermented and matured for 9 months in amphora, the balance in French oak. Finding a quiet day to bottle, during the onset of harvest can prove challenging, however the additional elevation in tank proves to be worthwhile. Bottled with light filtration in February2023.

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.