Sans Barrique Chardonnay

Another versatile offering, equally suitable with appetisers or main course. Works exceptionally well with creamy mushroom pastries, goat’s cheese or a smooth vegetable soup. Delightful with simply grilled or poached fish with butter and parsley or with moules marinière.

In marked contrast to the previous vintage, this growing season was characterised by near-ideal climatic conditions. A cool, sufficiently wet winter was followed by a long, dry growing season, fortunately free from major weather events. The evenly balanced crop ripened under mild, sunny days, complemented by timely and moderate rainfall. Harvest commenced on 7 February and concluded five weeks later.

A key contributor to the success of this wine lies in the origin of the fruit. The hillside Overberg vineyard, situated 700 metres above sea level, produces bunches of small, concentrated berries that lend the wine its characteristic spicy richness. The wine is fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel and matured without any oak contact. In addition to the core fruit, small portions from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and a vineyard in the Stanford Foothills are included to broaden and enhance the overall fruit profile.

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.