Granietsteen

Chicken, Goat's Cheese, Curry, Grilled Fish

The national average yield for the 2025 vintage was 12.9 ton/ha, while our vineyard's combined average is 4.4 ton/ha. In Granietsteen, we're at 3.6 ton/ha for 2025, slightly up from 2024, aligned with our 10-vintage average. The 2025 Stellenbosch vintage reflects a complex yet rewarding season delivering wines of balance and finesse. Despite some sunburn losses of weaker vines during adverse 2 days in December, more favourable conditions shaped a vintage with remarkable potential for elegance and aging. The season began with record July rainfall, replenishing reserves after a dry autumn. Vines showed more vigor early on, but dry veraison and ripening halted vigor with perfect timing. Cooler January temperatures 3°C below average) preserved sea-breezed acidities, with fewer heat days during ripening. Ideal harvest conditions ensured healthy Chenin blanc fruit, focused on quality.

Hand harvested. Predominately whole bunch pressed, with small portion of slow delayed destemmed pressing - capturing texture. Spontaneously natural fermentation in large format vessels. Both, Concrete and Foundre, were used for ferment and aging. Left on its fine lees for 10 months before racking and bottling. We value the use of elegant fine lees aging and minimal use of SO2 (total <60ppm). Complete MLF.

Bernhard Bredell: Why the name “Scions of Sinai”? Scion = In plant biology referring to the top part of a plant/vine that exists above the ground. We say “The Scion cultivar of that vine is Chenin blanc and the rootstock cultivar is Richter 99″. In old English literature the word “Scion” also refers to “the descendant of…”. Making it applicable to refer to myself as a “scion” from Sinai Hill as well as the vines. Plural “Scions”. Pronounced: SIGH-ENS. Sinai = Referring to Sinai Hill not the famous biblical mountain but the folk name for the foothill in the lower Helderberg region of Stellenbosch where the Bredell’s have farmed with old dryland bushvines for many generations. Luckily some of them are still rooted and a great part of them owned by my cousin Pieter Bredell (also 7th generation Bredell). Pronounced: SIN-EYE. It’s me and these couple of old bushvines… together we are by definition the Scions of Sinai. The descendants of Sinai Hill.