Kaapzicht Kliprug Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc 2021

Kaapzicht was founded in 1946 by WW2 veteran Major David Steytler. In search of greater adventure closer to the big city of Cape Town, he trades in the Karoo sheep for a wine farm, then named Rozendal.

The brand Kaapzicht started in 1984, named after its iconic view over the Cape. This was quite risky, as most wine at the time could not be exported and South Africa’s wine was predominantly sold domestically through cooperatives like Stellenbosch Farmer’s Winery. However, the winery’s fame did not come until the Steytler Vision 2001 wins Decanter’s best red wine in the world, making it the first Cape Blend to receive such global recognition. Now the winery is owned and managed by its fourth generation family members, primarily Danie Steytler junior (born 1980).

Kliprug Chenin Blanc is one of its Terroir range wines, best at expressing distinctive local characters.

All Chenin Blanc used for this wine had their vines planted in 1982 these old bush vines now never yield more than 4 tons per hectare. The vines do not need irrigation, and are planted in weathered granite topsoil and crumbly clay sub-soil it’s called “Kliprug” because of all the numerous iron-rich rocks on the ground.

Upon harvest, the fruits are handpicked, crushed and de-stemmed (with skin-contact in press). Natural sedimentation overnight after pressing (light and gentle pressing with maximum pressure of 0.8kpa). After settling, the wine is racked to 400L and 500L barrels for spontaneous fermentation. Fermentation can last between 2–4 weeks. The wine is aged in barrel for 10 months prior to bottling and bottled.