Op Die Berg Chardonnay

An oaked Chardonnay will be complemented by slightly creamier dishes such as buttered asparagus, shellfish dishes like a prawn and parmesan risotto, or ricotta and spinach ravioli. Also try it with classic foie gras or duck liver paté and garlic-rubbed bruschetta.

Well-drained, soft, yellow shale soils. In winter, the vineyard soil is often covered with a layer of snow which provides the perfect conditions for dormancy of the vines, a much-needed resting and recovery period before the growth season starts.

The wine is barrel aged ‘sur lie’ for 5 months whilst undergoing ‘bâtonnage’. Bâtonnage is the method of stirring up the lees and takes place twice a week before malolactic fermentation and once a month after malolactic fermentation to enhance the mouth feel and structure of the wine.

Handpicked at the break of dawn, carefully selected grapes are destemmed, crushed and lightly pressed at De Grendel with a recovery of only 650 litres per ton. After two days of settling, the juice is inoculated and transferred to 225 litre French Oak barrels for fermentation of which 1/3 is new, 1/3 is second fill and 1/3 is third fill.

De Grendel is a Durbanville wine estate where cool-climate vineyards and careful site selection shape a broad range of South African wines. Known for Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and red blends, the estate combines coastal influence, varietal clarity and a strong sense of Cape Town wine country.