Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2022

The Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc is made from dry-farmed vineyards ranging between 38 and 45 years in age. This aromatic and intensely fruity wine is a stunning showcase of the versatility of Chenin Blanc.

Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc – Winemaker explains

The old-vine bush-vine Chenin Blanc vineyards are located in the Agter-Paarl region. These dry-farmed vineyards sit on a basin of shale – the vineyards on the cooler, South-facing slopes produce grapes with pronounced stone fruit and flinty characteristics, while blocks located in warmer pockets produce concentrated fruit with intensity and texture.

2022 had warm, dry days with cool nighttime temperatures are ideal conditions for the growing and ripening of older Chenin Blanc vines. The cooler nighttime temperatures allowed the grapes to maintain acidity, adding vibrancy and an extra-long mouthfeel to the wine.

The old-vine bush-vine Chenin Blanc vineyards are located in the Agter-Paarl region. These dry-farmed vineyards sit on a basin of shale – the vineyards on the cooler, South-facing slopes produce grapes with pronounced stone fruit and flinty characteristics, while blocks located in warmer pockets produce concentrated fruit with intensity and texture.

Grapes were hand-picked and immediately crushed, de-stemmed and pressed. After overnight settling, the juice was racked off the gross lees and a small amount of fine lees was added back to give texture to the wine. The juice was then transferred to a combination of neutral oak 32% and the rest in stainless steel. After fermentation, the wine was left on the lees for two months, giving the final wine a rich and textured palate.