Bellingham Citrus Grove Chenin Blanc 2015
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The Podlashuks realized that they needed the help of individuals with farming experience and promptly enlisted the assistance of 13 Italian POWs who helped them to replant the vineyards. Hungry for knowledge, Bernard and Fredagh travelled to France and Germany and returned resplendent with experience and initiative. They buckled down and released the Cape's first rosé in 1949, followed in quick succession by the Premier Grand Cru in 1951 and Bellingham's first single varietal Shiraz in 1956. ?
The 80s and 90s saw vineyard developments, cellar extensions and the beginning of Bellingham’s classic new world winemaking philosophy. The turn of the century inspired a shift in the Bellingham portfolio and The Maverick range was launched in 2002 – a challenge to both custom and convention.
Boldly exploring new territories in the fine art of crafting wine, Bellingham has received numerous international awards and garnered far-flung acclaim. The current Bellingham generation celebrates the historic momentum that has shaped its wines through time in four chapters that tell the stories behind the gable.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
With an important wine renaissance in full swing, impressive red and white bargains abound in South Africa. The country has a particularly long and rich history with winemaking, especially considering its status as part of the “New World.” In the mid-17th century, the lusciously sweet dessert wines of Constantia were highly prized by the European aristocracy. Since then, the South African wine industry has experienced some setbacks due to the phylloxera infestation of the late 1800s and political difficulties throughout the following century.
Today, however, South Africa is increasingly responsible for high-demand, high-quality wines—a blessing to put the country back on the international wine map. Wine production is mainly situated around Cape Town, where the climate is generally warm to hot. But the Benguela Current from Antarctica provides brisk ocean breezes necessary for steady ripening of grapes. Similarly, cooler, high-elevation vineyard sites throughout South Africa offer similar, favorable growing conditions.
South Africa’s wine zones are divided into region, then smaller districts and finally wards, but the country’s wine styles are differentiated more by grape variety than by region. Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, is the country’s “signature” grape, responsible for red-fruit-driven, spicy, earthy reds. When Pinotage is blended with other red varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Pinot Noir (all commonly vinified alone as well), it is often labeled as a “Cape Blend.” Chenin Blanc (locally known as “Steen”) dominates white wine production, with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc following close behind.