At the heart of this recognition lies Calcrete, a style of Chardonnay shaped by the valley’s ancient, lime-rich soils. With its striking minerality, elegance, and purity, Calcrete is now being hailed as South Africa’s closest answer to Chablis.
The Robertson Valley’s soils are dominated by limestone deposits that date back millions of years, remnants of a prehistoric seabed. These calcareous soils are rare in South Africa and give Chardonnays from the region their defining edge: a clean line of acidity, subtle citrus and stone fruit flavours, and a chalky, almost saline finish. It is this mineral backbone that draws immediate comparisons with Chablis, yet Calcrete has its own authentic imprint.
What makes Calcrete so exciting is its ability to capture both the precision of old-world wines and the vibrancy of the new world. While lovers of Chablis will find familiar notes of lemon zest, green apple, and wet stone, Calcrete offers a unique minerality from its arid chalky terroir. This interplay between tension and energy makes it a truly unique expression, one that has the potential to command serious attention on the international stage.
More than ten producers in the Robertson Valley produce Calcrete under their own brands establishing this as a true region defining appellation wine. Leading the charge is Weltevrede Wine Estate, a family estate deeply rooted in the limestone terroir between Bonnievale and Robertson. On 10 September 2025, Weltevrede will release its next vintage, the Weltevrede Calcrete Chardonnay 2025, for export orders at the Cape Wine international trade show. A wine crafted to showcase this remarkable soil and the Jonker family’s dedication to Chardonnay.
As the world of wine grows ever more curious about terroir-driven expressions beyond Europe, Calcrete stands ready to claim its own place on the international stage.