More wines available from Alheit Vineyards
Pre-Arrival
Alheit Vineyards Chenin Blanc Huilkrans 2018
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$186.56
The 2018 Huilkrans is 100% Chenin Blanc from the Citrusdal Mountains. Its bouquet is more waxy and resinous than...
Pre-Arrival
Alheit Vineyards Chenin Blanc Nautical Dawn 2020
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$79.28
The 2020 Nautical Dawn, from granite soils and vines planted in 1978 that undergoes a two month ferment, is aged in...
More Details
Winery
Alheit Vineyards
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
The green skinned grapes of the Chenin Blanc varietal are used for a wide range of different wines. In their native home of France, they are used for the production of some excellent sparkling crémants, or allowed to develop noble rot, which intensifies their natural sweetness and produces some unusual and intense flavors In most countries around the world, though, Chenin Blanc grapes are used for the production of high quality still white wines, which have the ability to express the finer features of the terroir they are grown on. Many winemakers like to age their Chenin Blanc wines in oak or chestnut barrels, which adds an extra layer of complexity to the wines. These grapes thrive best in heavy clay soils, and ripen late in the season, when their natural flavors can come through fully.
Region: Coastal Region
South Africa is a fascinating country for wine, and the coastal regions at the very tip of the African continent are widely regarded as being one of the finest wine regions in the world. It isn't difficult to understand why the early European settlers in the 17th century saw such potential for viticulture in the area; the heat is fantastic, the summer days wonderfully long, the soil rich in minerals, and the strong winds coming from the ocean provide much needed coolness in which the grapes could ripen slowly and fully. Over time, South Africa's coastal regions became covered in strong, healthy vineyards, and today, the wine industry of the region is booming. The past few decades have seen wineries experimenting with a wide range of grape varietals, and also producing fortified wines and sparkling wines of great character alongside their classic varieties.
Country: South Africa
Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.