South African winemaking is a success story that began during the Dutch East India Company (VOC) period. It was actually the Dutch who exerted considerable influence, especially in the early years of South African winemaking. As a result, many wineries still bear somewhat Dutch names. Stellenrust Winery is named after one of South Africa's most famous wine regions: Stellenbosch. This region, located east of Cape Town, is known worldwide for its phenomenal wines.
Stellenrust Winery has been operating in the Stellenbosch vineyards for almost a century. It's still run by the same family. The Stellenrust vineyards cover a total of 400 hectares. Some of this is planted in Stellenbosch, but a portion is also found a little further north in the Bottelary Hills. Here, the climate is slightly cooler thanks to a sea breeze from the east. This allows the highly sought-after Chenin Blanc, for example, to thrive.
For this Stellenrust wine, the winery uses Chenin Blanc, which has almost become part of the heritage of South African wines. It is a true signature of this wine country. A small portion of Stellenrust Chenin Blanc is aged in French oak. After fermentation, the wine also rests on its own yeast cells for a full five months. This gives the wine a touch more character. Aromas of grapefruit, pear, and lime create a tension on the palate.
