21 Gables Chenin Blanc Comes Out Top – Again!

It continues a winning streak at Spier for the varietal: in the same competition last year, the 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2014 was also ranked in the top 10, while in 2014, it was the turn of the Woolworths Private Collection 2013 to be included.

Spier will be donating its R20,000 prize money to the Agroecology Academy. Hosted at the Sustainability Institute in Lynedoch, the academy catalyses sustainable land reform through empowering young farmers with skills and experience that encompasses food production, and the relationships between soil, plants, animals and humans.

In addition to the Chenin Blanc, Spier’s 21 Gables range includes a Sauvignon Blanc, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Pinotage. Each celebrate the farm’s winemaking heritage – which goes all the way back to the early 1700s – as well as the Spier’s unique architectural feature: an unrivalled 21 Cape Dutch gables surrounding its historic farmyard, the Werf. Following meticulous restoration, the Werf has been restored to its original purpose: a hub of activity and creativity; a meeting place where ideas are exchanged.

A winning wine

The 21 Gables Chenin Blanc is a wine of outstanding pedigree: its 2014 vintage was included in the Top 100 SA Wines, won a Silver Outstanding medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and a Gold at the Veritas Wine Awards.

The 2015 vintage has been crafted with grapes handpicked from vines in the Tygerberg region. Fermentation took place in combination of 300, 400, 500 and 2500 liter French oak barrels where the wine matured for 14 months.

This Chenin has soft aromas of dried apricots and ripe tropical fruit, with an oak and vanilla undertow. On the palate, there is good acidity and rounded rich flavours of white flesh peaches, almond paste and hints of cream.

Enjoy with oriental-style crisp pork belly, duck breast with fynbos honey and spices or Cape-style pickled fish.