DMZ Chenin Blanc

This Chenin Blanc pairs excellently with cream-based dishes and oily fish, enhancing the flavors of such meals.

The grapes for this wine are sourced exclusively from DeMorgenzon's own Chenin Blanc vineyards. These vines, with southerly and south-easterly aspects overlooking False Bay, are managed for optimal exposure to gentle morning sunshine. The granitic soils contribute to excellent natural acidity and flavor concentration, further enhanced by intentionally low yields.

Grapes are harvested cool in the early morning, then destemmed, crushed, and pressed, with the juice settled until clear. Fermentation occurs spontaneously without the addition of commercial yeasts, in a combination of stainless steel tanks and old French oak barrels. The resulting wines are racked and sulphured prior to blending, with the final blend left on fine yeast lees for maturation until bottling.

A hidden garden vineyard deep in the Stellenbosch Kloof, with sweeping views across False Bay to Cape Town, lies DeMorgenzon - a name derived from Dutch origin for “the morning sun.” From its hilltop manor, this prestigious and graceful family estate is home to Wendy and Hylton Appelbaum. Classical music drifts through the garden vineyards. The earth has music for those who listen. Viticulturally, DeMorgenzon has predominantly south-facing slopes create a cooler microclimate in an otherwise warm region. This allows for the production of finely poised, ethereal Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay, as well as sophisticated, highly aromatic Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. In keeping with their vinous philosophy, the estate is farmed regeneratively, fostering biodiversity and soil vitality to create a balanced, living ecosystem in the vineyards.