Sur Lie Chenin Blanc

Shellfish, Chicken pasta

In what must go down as one of the best white wine vintages in South- Africa this 2021 wine is a perfect example of great Simonsberg – Stellenbosch terroir. The late start to the 2021 harvest was one of the distinguishing hallmarks of this vintage. The cooler growing conditions of the 2021 vintage produced elegant wines that will make them accessible and drinkable from an earlier age.

This wine is made from our older organically farmed vineyards and are planted in some of the best terroir in Stellenbosch. Complete out of the box winemaking together with low yields help us to make this wine that can compete with a 50 year plus vineyard. It is all about getting the balance right. We pick everything by hand in the early mornings if possible. We have 4 blocks of Chenin on 4 different areas on the farm. Each block is unique and ripens at different times over a 3 week period. The grapes are naturally fermented in open top tanks, with extended skin contact during fermentation. No enzymes, yeast nutrients or fining agents are added.

The history of our wine farm can be traced back until the year 1818. Originally named “Good Success” and owned by Dutchman Daniel Johannes van Ryneveld from Amsterdam, this vast farm extended to most of the catchment area in the valley enclosed by the Simonsberg, Kanonkop and Klapmuts. The property was later divided into three farms: Warwick, De Goede Sukses and the remainder of the farm Good Success, which has become Laibach in 1994, when entrepreneur Friedrich Laibach realized his dream of owning a vineyard. Laibach Vineyards was then sold to current owners, Johann & Paul Krige of neighbouring Kanonkop Wine Estate in April 2022. The picturesque Ladybird Vineyards are flanked by the renowned vineyards of Kanonkop, Warwick, Marklew and Lievland. Ultimately, our wine quality is forever linked to the land where our grapes are grown. Site selection is essential in the making of fine wines, because flavour starts in the vineyards. The Simonsberg terroir with its lean deep red soils (Glovelly, Glenrosa) and cooling maritime winds from nearby False Bay is ideal for red wines of body and complexity.