De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay

What a full-bodied Chardonnay—that's the perfect way to describe it. This De Wetshof Bon Vallon Chardonnay comes from a vineyard of approximately twenty years old. These somewhat older vines give it its full character. The limestone-rich soil gives this Bon Vallon a lively and clean freshness, resulting in a broad spectrum of classic flavors. Johann de Wet, father of Danie, the current owner of the De Wetshof Estate, laid the foundation for the estate as it is today in 1952. Under Danie de Wet's leadership, De Wetshof has grown into one of South Africa's leading wineries.

The old vineyard of De Wetshof

The Robertson Valley is characterized by cold winters and sunny summers with an average annual rainfall of 400 millimeters. In summer, a fresh southerly breeze has a cooling effect on the vineyards, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly and in perfect balance. Nights are cool, and during the summer months, a mist often shrouds the vineyards until late in the morning. The dry climate and bracing winds keep pests to a minimum, resulting in sparse pruning programs. Automated irrigation systems ensure that the vines receive the right amount of water at precisely the right time. This allows the grapes to ripen optimally and develop sufficient flavor.

Completely hand-harvested for this Bon Vallon Chardonnay

The grapes are harvested by hand in the cool of the morning. Once the destemming, pressing, and overnight settling are complete, the juice is removed from the sediment and pumped into stainless steel tanks for alcoholic fermentation. After fermentation, the wine continues to ferment under controlled temperatures. Weekly stirring ensures that the maximum flavors are released until the wine is ready for bottling. And finally, there is this delicious Bon Vallon Chardonnay. The aroma reveals hints of toasted bread, nuts, and banana. But also a touch of butter and peach. All in all, a very pleasant aroma. The palate is complete with a broad bouquet of impressions. The taste is very buttery and full of beautiful nuances of smokiness, wood, vanilla, and citrus fruit.