Chamonix Estate in Franschhoek, which underwent a comprehensive replanting of most of its vineyards in 2022 and 2023, has this year harvested its first grapes from the new vines. The estate’s 36 hectares of mountain vineyards were replanted three years ago, with the exception of a 0.6-hectare old Chenin Blanc vineyard. The now three-year-old Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vineyards have begun yielding their first crops, which will be used to produce wines for Chamonix’s 2025 vintage.
Stefan van Rooyen, CEO of Chamonix, explained that the estate has sourced fruit from various regions, including Elgin, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch, for its wines over the past two vintages. This practice will continue in decreasing amounts until 2028, when all wines under the Chamonix label will once again be made exclusively from the estate’s own grapes.
“This year’s Chamonix Sauvignon Blanc and unoaked Chardonnay wines will be bottled exclusively from Chamonix Estate grapes,” van Rooyen said. “For the wooded Chardonnay range, these will be blended components made from grapes sourced from Chamonix, as well as other regions. But after a three-year hiatus, Chamonix’s own grapes are once again coming into the cellar, and the path to total restoration of our estate vineyards has begun.”
Founded in 1991, Chamonix Estate has established itself as a leading producer in Franschhoek over the past three decades. The estate’s vineyards, planted on steep slopes up to 600 meters above sea level, benefit from a unique terroir characterized by decomposed granite, loam, clay, and slate soils. This terroir is particularly suited to growing site-specific wine grapes, especially Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc.
The decision to replant the vineyards in 2022 was driven by the age of the vines and the prevalence of leaf-roll virus. All vineyards were removed, except for a small plot of Chenin Blanc planted in 1965. The new vineyards now include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Sémillon.
Neil Bruwer, Chamonix’s winemaker, described the first harvest from the new vines as the beginning of a new era for the estate. “It has been a privilege to be part of the replanting programme, which was undertaken after a rigorous mapping of soil profiles and climate zones—detailed science that was not available when Chamonix’s first vineyards were planted in the 1990s,” Bruwer said. “Together with legendary Vinpro viticulturist Francois Viljoen, we selected grape varieties, rootstocks, and clones to match specific sites on Chamonix. For the past three years, the team and I have eagerly awaited the first results from the new vineyards. While the young Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay vineyards are still low-yielding, the grapes already show developed flavor profiles and balanced chemistries. Once fermentation is complete, we will once again taste Chamonix’s unique sense of place in these young wines—something we are tremendously excited about.”
This milestone marks a significant step forward for Chamonix Estate as it continues to build on its legacy of producing exceptional wines rooted in its distinctive terroir.
