Van Lill Chenin Blanc

Pair with pork scallops or roast chicken.

Basie van Lill of Arbeidsend has owned and worked these vineyards for decades. The vineyards share space with fynbos and Rooibos tea bushes while sheep also graze the land. These treasured old bush vines, planted without irrigation in 1983 on the well-drained sandy red soils of the Skurfberg Mountain, together with the area’s height above sea level and naturally low rainfall, produce small quantities of intense and balanced wines with a high natural acidity. A warm and dry winter preceded the 2023 harvest, with fairly even budding occurring slightly earlier than the previous year. The warm conditions continued throughout the growing season, which eventually led to an overall lighter crop in most regions. Heavy rains early in December brought great relief, and ensured that the vines were in good condition leading up to harvest. For most part of the season, conditions were ideal and the quality of fruit outstanding. Unusually high and continuous rainfall in March created some challenges for later ripening regions and varietals. Overall, a great quality vintage that promises to deliver some outstanding wines.

The wine was aged for 7 months on the lees without MLF before being bottled.

The grapes were transported to the cellar in refrigerated trucks and cooled overnight. Bunches were hand-sorted and whole-bunch pressed the following day, and the juice settled overnight. The juice was then racked into an old French oak foudre where spontaneous fermentation occurred.

This is a range created in recognition of the Cape of Good Hope’s vinous heritage which stretches back more than 350 years when the first Governor of the Cape planted grapes. These unique wines are the result of irreplaceable parcels of old vines and site specific terroirs. The labels reflect the grape variety as well as the origin and singular characters behind them.