Since the early 1990’s, De Wetshof Estate has been at the forefront of South Africa’s Chardonnay industry and is today recognised locally and around the world as the country’s true House of Chardonnay. The De Wet family were at the forefront of introducing this majestic white grape variety from Burgundy to South Africa, and a pioneering vision and skilled winemaking were complemented by the terroir of Robertson which is especially suited to the cultivar allowing the expression of Chardonnay with a true sense of place.
The limestone-rich soils of the Robertson Wine Valley and ideal sunny dry conditions cooled by the breezes off the Indian Ocean allow De Wetshof range of Chardonnays to offer the magnificent spectrum of aromas and flavours that has made this variety the world’s noble white wine.
Each of the Estate’s six wines are carefully crafted from grapes growing on individual parcels of soils and in climates that allow every wine to express a uniquely different character and taste profile. This attentive, site-specific approach to crafting the wine reage offers wine-lovers the world over six wines varying in taste profile made from the Chardonnay variety that has found an ancestral home on De Wetshof.
Why six Chardonnays? Well, firstly, being the most terroir-expressive white grape variety, different geographical aspects each add an own set of nuances to the wine. With the De Wetshof farm being blessed with this variety of soils, aspect and climate influences, we are able to create a portfolio of Chardonnay excellence. And secondly, as the best-loved white wine in the world, Chardonnay has so much to offer and we want to give as much as we can. Therefore our styles are diverse, delicious and manage to capture the imagination of the consumer.
Limestone Hill, Calcrete and Bon Vallon are three unwooded wines expressing freshness and zest, along with the lip-smacking delicious complexity the Chardonnay grape is known. Each of these three express distinctive profiles, from the fruit-driven deliciousness of Bon Vallon and Limestone Hill, to the bright, vigour of Calcrete.
Finesse, one of De Wetshof’s first wines, is a lightly oaked Chardonnay bringing a creamy mouth-feel to the minerality and citrus notes, a wine underscoring Chardonnay as one of the world’s great food wines.
The Site and Bateleur are single-vineyard wines, classically aged in French oak reminiscent of the great Chardonnays of France, but with a true South African taste of place.
Added to this range of still wines is the De Wetshof Blanc de Blancs, a Cap Classique sparkling wine made exclusively from Chardonnay, just like the great Champagnes of France.
Being the House of Chardonnay with a variety of wines, De Wetshof is committed to opening its doors to those wishing to discover the excellence and diversity of the world’s finest white wine. And like it has been for the De Wets of De Wetshof, this is an incredible journey of discovery offering unsurpassed vinous pleasure.
