Over the last two decades, the Chenin Blanc grape has become synonymous with South Africa’s finest wines, boasting the largest plantings globally and deeply woven into the country’s winemaking history at the Cape.
Records suggest that when the first wine grapes were pressed in Africa’s southernmost point back in 1659, Chenin Blanc, alongside various Muscat varieties, likely featured in those inaugural vinous offerings. Since those early days of winemaking in the country, Chenin Blanc has significantly shaped the narrative of Cape wine, maintaining its position as the most widely planted wine grape in South Africa today.
“Chenin Blanc is a pivotal part of Cape wine’s legacy,” emphasizes Carina Gous, Kleine Zalze Wines’ GM in Stellenbosch. “Its prevalence across the Cape winelands, coupled with South Africa’s emergence as a premier producer of quality Chenin Blanc wines, stemming from its origins in France’s Loire region, signifies a compelling narrative for South African wine.”
As one of the oldest wine-grape varieties in the country, Chenin Blanc contributes an intriguing dimension to the South African Wine brand beyond its captivating flavor range, spanning from crisp, mineral-driven wines to oak-aged, richly complex treasures. This distinct contribution lies in granting Cape wineries access to old Chenin Blanc vines, whose fruit lends further weight and distinction to the resulting wines.
In South Africa, the Old Vine Project officially designates vineyards aged 35 years and older as Heritage Vines. More than half of the country’s 4,292 hectares of recognized Old Vines are Chenin Blanc, solidifying the variety’s inseparable connection to Cape wine industry history. Stellenbosch alone boasts 558 hectares of Old Vine Chenin Blanc, a factor contributing significantly to the region’s premier status in the country’s appellations.
“As a prominent winery in Stellenbosch, with a strong focus on Chenin Blanc, Kleine Zalze highly regards the tradition of Old Vine Chenin Blanc and incorporates it significantly into our Chenin Blanc portfolio,” Gous affirms. “In fact, among the 558 hectares of Old Vine Chenin Blanc in Stellenbosch, Kleine Zalze manages 95 hectares of these historic vineyards, making us the largest producer of Stellenbosch Heritage Vineyard Chenin Blanc in the country.”
Kleine Zalze’s vineyards, aged 35 years and older, predominantly thrive on granite soils in Stellenbosch’s Faure, Bottelary, and Devon Valley sub-regions. Most are unirrigated bush-vines—resilient ancient plants that, over decades, have perfected their expression of distinctive terroir, contributing to Kleine Zalze’s Chenin Blanc portfolio.
According to RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze’s cellarmaster, who, alongside his team, has the privilege of working with these vinous treasures, old vine grapes infuse an ‘X-factor’ into their Chenin Blanc wines.
“The allure of Old Vine Chenin Blanc lies in two aspects,” Botha explains. “Firstly, each vineyard tells a story. These are ancient, gnarled vines rooted in tough granite soils, enduring over three decades of stormy winters, breezy springs, and sun-drenched summers. With age, they’ve become intertwined with their environment, authentically expressing their lived world—what we call terroir. These vineyards demand reverence.”
This leads to the second captivating facet of Old Vine Chenin Blanc: in the cellar, working with these grapes demands respecting their character.
“Old Vine Chenin Blanc vineyards vividly express varietal character and terroir more distinctly than younger vines,” Botha insists. “You witness it in the tight clusters of small berries, in the aromatic juices that permeate the cellar during harvest, and in the taut, almost electric balance between sugar and acidity, resulting in wines of multi-layered complexity.”
Studies conducted by the Old Vine Project demonstrate discernible differences between wines from old vineyards and those from younger ones, notably in concentration, texture, and length.
“It’s not about saying old vines produce superior wines, but rather that these wines possess their own personality and unique fingerprint—that’s non-negotiable,” Botha concludes.
Kleine Zalze’s Old Vine Chenin Blanc enriches three wines in its portfolio—the critically acclaimed Family Reserve Chenin Blanc, the Vineyard Selection, and the Chenin Blancs within its experimental Project Z range. Additionally, a bottle-fermented Old Vine Chenin Blanc Cap Classique, currently resting on lees, will soon join the Kleine Zalze range.
“Our approach to vinification upholds the tradition of Old Vine Chenin Blanc at Kleine Zalze,” Botha emphasizes. “Maturation in French oak casks and terracotta amphorae heightens the wines’ gravity from these majestic vineyards, reinforcing our commitment to crafting wines from these heritage vineyards and contributing to South Africa’s wine legacy.”
