The Grendel On That Mountain Chardonnay

The Op Die Berg vineyard is known for its apples and pears, located at the summit of Witzenberg in Ceres. Chardonnay grapes are also grown here. Situated at an altitude of 960 meters, this vineyard boasts soft slate soils and extremely cold winters. In some years, the vines are completely covered in snow in winter—unique in South Africa, creating a truly continental climate ideal for Chardonnay in particular. The slow-ripening fruit produces wines with consistently distinctive character and expressive style.

Manual harvest for De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay

De Grendel is a historic estate on the Tygerberg mountain and was purchased in 1891 by politician and businessman Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaf. It wasn't until 1999 that the third generation planted vines there. Success didn't arrive until 2005, when renowned winemaker Charles Hopkins was hired to build a completely new cellar. For this Sauvignon Blanc, a special vineyard selection is made from premium vineyards in Lutzville and Darling, plus a small batch of Semillon from De Grendel Vineyards. Careful vineyard management ensures superior fruit concentration and more powerful flavors. The Chardonnay grapes are harvested entirely by hand and carefully selected. In the winery, the grapes are destemmed, crushed, and lightly pressed. After two days of settling, the juice is inoculated and transferred to French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine is aged for six months "sur lie" in barrels while undergoing "bâtonnage." Bâtonnage is the method of stirring the lees and takes place twice a week before malolactic fermentation and once a month after malolactic fermentation to improve the wine's mouthfeel and structure.

The pearl wine of De Grendel

The Grendel Op die Berg Chardonnay is a gem among Chardonnay wines. Its golden yellow color already suggests a lot. The aroma is wonderfully aromatic with notes of butterscotch, coconut, vanilla, and yellow fruit like pear and apricot. The palate initially offers delicate notes of ripe yellow fruit, which then evolve into a delightful sensation of peach, apricot, vanilla, a light hint of coconut, and a mineral yet creamy finish! Wow, what a wonderful experience we had with this delicious Chardonnay from De Grendel.