Chenin Blanc

Shellfish, Spicy food, Lean fish, Mild and soft cheese

Waterford Estate has been working with Chenin Blanc grapes since 1999. Along the journey, a French winemaker from the world-famous Chenin Blanc region of the Loire valley, Cedric Lecareux, joined the Waterford team for the 2001 vintage. Here the true excitement of Chenin Blanc began for Waterford. Our Chenin Blanc grapes are sourced from Old Vines in Stellenbosch. The oldest were originally planted in 1966.

To best preserve purity of fruit, berry bunches are hand-harvested in the early morning and whole bunch pressed directly to concrete eggs for natural fermentation. The concrete eggs are neutral in flavour and allow the wine to remain vibrant and to express itself fully. Old vines are not necessarily fruit forward but often bring tremendous layers and complexity to the palate.

Waterford Estate is situated in the Blaauwklippen Valley on the rolling slopes of the Helderberg Mountain in the well-known Stellenbosch region. Waterford Estate prides themselves in making Fine Wine from carefully selected grapes. Winemaker, Mark Le Roux and viticulturist, David van Schalkwyk both believe a Fine Wine displays the character of its cultivar and a true sense of place. A Fine Wine should reflect the length on the palate, has a complexity of flavours, internal harmony between aromatics and the palate, and balance between its essential components.