Rondevlei 2022

David & Nadia's Rondevlei comes from Swartland, north of Cape Town, in South Africa's Coastal Region. The vines are planted on ancient decomposed granite and shale soils, typical of the rolling hills of this appellation, which enjoys a Mediterranean climate tempered by ocean breezes. The vineyard is managed with an approach that respects the soil and biodiversity, with particular attention paid to expressing the terroir. This cuvée highlights the natural freshness and salinity characteristic of this part of Swartland.

Made from old, hand-harvested Chenin Blanc vines, this wine is produced from grapes carefully sorted in the vineyard. The berries are whole-bunch pressed, then the must is gravity-fed into old oak barrels for spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Aging continues on fine lees in the same containers, without extensive bâtonnage, before a delicate blending and bottling with minimal intervention, to preserve the purity and natural tension of the terroir.

This wine reveals notes of ripe citrus, stone fruit, and yellow apple, complemented by floral touches of white flowers and a mineral dimension reminiscent of wet stone. Subtle nuances of sweet spices and a slight saline character bring complexity and depth. On the palate, the texture is precise, driven by taut acidity, a texture that is both full-bodied and chiseled, and a long, straight, sapid finish that highlights the purity of the terroir.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today, South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often share more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, heavily influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.