More wines available from Alheit Vineyards
Pre-Arrival
Alheit Vineyards Chenin Blanc Huilkrans 2018
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$185.09
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:
$78.68
The 2020 Nautical Dawn, from granite soils and vines planted in 1978 that undergoes a two month ferment, is aged in...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$73.48
With a wine list that extends to thousands of labels you can easily get lost, so since I will soon be in the Cape, I...
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$54.01
The 2019 Cartology was whole-bunch-pressed and matured in cement eggs, amphorae, foudres and used barrels, fermented...
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Winery
Alheit Vineyards
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
Originating in France yet now grown in many parts of the New World, Chenin Blanc is one of the most versatile and highly regarded white wine grape varietals on earth. These green skinned grapes hold a relatively high acid content, and as such can be used for making still white wines of exceptional quality, as well as superb sparkling wines (such as the Crémant wines of the Loire Valley) and extremely aromatic dessert wines. Their natural transparency means that they are a fine grape for expressing their terroir in the bottle, and winemakers often experiment with this varietal to coax unusual and intense flavors from the grapes, such as allowing the development of noble rot on the fruit in order to make sweet and viscous wines of a unique character.
Region: Coastal Region
Coastal South Africa has long been recognized as a vitally important global wine region, and was probably the first 'New World' country to produce wines of an exceptionally high quality. Indeed, in the late 18th century, wines from in and around Cape Town were regarded as amongst the best wines on earth, and were adored for their exoticism and big, fruity flavors Today, the South African wine industry is booming, and wineries are appearing each year along the sun drenched and windy oceanic coastline. Many grape varietals are now grown in the region, however, Chenin Blanc remains the country's flagship varietal, with over eighteen percent of vineyards in the country used for this particular grape, closely followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Colombard.
Country: South Africa
With its hot, long summers and oceanic winds from both the west and the east, South Africa is something of a haven for a wide range of imported grape varietals. Since the mid-18th century, the country has been associated with some very fine wines made using complex and careful blending techniques, with one of the most famous and widely loved early examples being constructed from Pontac, Muscadel and Chenin Blanc varietals. Since those colonial days, the regions around Cape Town have proven again and again to be fantastic areas for producing interesting and delicious wines, with many of the best examples of Champagne style sparkling wines originating from these fertile lands. From the scorchingly hot regions of Orange Rivers, to the far cooler and temperate appellations in Walker Bay, South Africa has developed a booming wine industry responsible for many of the finest New World wines available anywhere across the globe.