Region: South Africa - Western Cape - Swartland
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
Alcohol: 11.5%
Notes on the Wine
Planted in 1961, dry land bush vines (un-trellised), farmed organically. It is a 4-ha block of Chenin planted on the sandstone soils of the Piketberg foothills on the way to Redelinghuys. The proximity to a small river provides enough water throughout the growing season. 2021 was an excellent vintage for this wine and block of grapes. As the rains were above average in 2021 the soils were well saturated resulting in much better yields for these old vines.
Hand harvested and whole bunch pressed. Fermented in 3500L old Foudre and 2000L Stainless Steel tanks. Maturation in 2 x 3500L Foudre and 2000L Stainless tanks. No yeast (or other) inoculation or additives apart from a small amount of SO2 shortly before bottling. Ambient fermentation (the juice/ wine is not cooled). 100% malolactic fermentation. A clarifying filtration was done, no fining.
Notes on the Producer
Testalonga was started by husband and wife, Craig and Carla Hawkins, in 2008. After many years of traveling the world making wine (Matassa, Terroir Al Limit, Dirk Niepoort, and many others), they settled in the Swartland region of South Africa and made 2 barrels of a macerated Chenin (the first orange wine made in South Africa!)
In 2015, they purchased land on the Northern mountains of Swartland and they started planting vines in 2018. The farm is called Bandits Kloof (kloof means ‘ravine’ in Afrikaans) and is being planted with Mediterranean (the climate similar to the south of France/Sicily) grape varieties like Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Frappato, Maccabeu, etc. Currently they have 4 hectares planted and will slowly grow to 9 hectares.
