Description of the Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay Cuvée
Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay has a bright and vibrant colour. On the nose, it reveals complex aromas of quince, citrus peel, lime zest and butterscotch, with hints of pear. On the palate, it has a rich and balanced texture, with bright citrus flavours and mineral notes, leading to a long and textured finish.
Breeding:
11 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new, with 18% malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged for 12 months in the bottle.
Where are we traveling?
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is perhaps South Africa’s most famous wine region. The town, located in the coastal region of the Western Cape, is steeped in history and home to the country’s most famous wineries. Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s most common grape variety and is often paired with Merlot to create Bordeaux-style blended wines. Vineyards span the rolling hills of Stellenbosch, from Helderberg in the south to the lower slopes of Simonsberg Mountain in the north. This terrain allows for a wide variety of wine styles, and among the exposed hills and sheltered valleys, there are microclimates that are suited to growing all manner of grape varieties. The region’s climate is relatively warm and dry, although there is a maritime influence from False Bay in the south. Cooling southeasterly breezes blow through the vineyards in the afternoon, refreshing the grapes after the heat of the morning sun. White wine varieties are often planted closer to the ocean, where this effect is more pronounced.
The little history of the country
South Africa
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.
