Glass Collection Unoaked Chardonnay 2022

Glenelly Estate Glass Collection Chardonnay is an elegant South African white wine from the renowned Stellenbosch terroir at the foot of Simonsberg Mountain. Planted on south-east facing slopes, the vines benefit from rich, well-drained granite soil and a Mediterranean climate tempered by cool Atlantic breezes . These ideal conditions allow the Chardonnay grape variety to reach a beautiful maturity while retaining natural acidity and great freshness.

The grapes are harvested manually at dawn to preserve their aromatic purity, then gently pressed into whole bunches . Fermentation takes place partly in French oak barrels , with aging on fine lees for around 9 months , providing fat, structure and a beautiful integration of the wood. This precision work results in a complex, balanced and perfectly controlled Chardonnay .

Upon tasting, this wine reveals aromas of fresh citrus , juicy pear , white flowers and a subtle hint of toasted hazelnut and fresh butter . On the palate, the wine is distinguished by its smooth texture, fine minerality , and a long finish with notes of white peach , lemon zest and brioche . It seduces with its balance between tension and richness , offering a superb alternative to white Burgundies at excellent value for money.

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.