We like to moan about the hot, dry climate in the Cape Winelands, but this vintage, we had an unexpected cold spell!
“Never a dull moment during harvest, whatever the weather,” says winemaker Corlea Fourie, who is particularly bullish about the Chenins this year: “The Chenin Blanc is an early-ripening cultivar, and has performed extremely well this vintage. The cooler weather has given us a higher natural acidity, but then Chenin always looks good,” she says of her favourite varietal.
“A portion of the OVP Optenhorst Chenin Blanc is spending some time in an Amphora just to see how it fares, while the beautifully ripened Chenin from their Upper Hemel-en-Aarde farm will be made into the now super-popular Bosman Family Vineyards Pet Nat.