Discovery Set - Chenin Blanc 3

One grape variety, six styles

Chenin Blanc is South Africa's most widely planted white variety, and few others show so many different faces in the Cape. This Discovery Set brings together six Chenins from Stellenbosch, Paarl and the Swartland: from crisp and unwooded in steel tanks to spontaneously fermented wines from old bush vines, as well as a Chenin with subtle oak influence. It quickly becomes clear how much terroir, vine age and cellar work shape a single variety. Ideal for comparing at the dinner table, as an introduction to the world of Cape Chenin, or as a gift for curious wine lovers.

The six bottles in the set

• Ernie Els Big Easy Chenin Blanc 2025 Named after the golf legend's nickname and vinified by Louis Strydom at the Helderberg estate. An unwooded, juicy Chenin with citrus, stone fruit and tropical fruit, fresh and uncomplicated.
• Brookdale Chenin Blanc Mason Road 2022 The estate is located at the foot of the Klein Drakenstein Mountains in Paarl; the Mason Road line is its accessible second wine. Honeysuckle, pear and a lively tropical note, supported by youthful freshness and depth from vines planted in 1985 and 1993.
• Stellenrust Chenin Blanc 2025 From 30- to 45-year-old bush vines in the Bottelary Hills, the heartland of old Chenin in Stellenbosch. Lime, grapefruit and pear, with minerality on the palate. Falstaff 90 points.
• Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc Cellar Selection 2024 From bush vines in Stellenbosch, Paarl and the Swartland, vinified separately parcel by parcel. Lime, lemon zest and guava, fruit-forward and beautifully textured.
• Leeuwenkuil Chenin Blanc 2024 Classic Swartland Chenin from dry-farmed bush vines, spontaneously fermented in foudres, concrete and steel. Citrus blossom, quince and yellow apple, with stone fruit and a fresh, slightly tart minerality.
• Stellenrust Chenin Blanc B28 Fair Trade 2024 From Stellenrust's Bottelary Hills line, grown on weathered granite soils and Fairtrade certified. Green apple, white peach, lemon zest and a hint of honeycomb, with a slightly waxy texture. Ranked among the top 10 in the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2025.

At a glance: 6 x 0.75 l bottles, white wine, 100% Chenin Blanc, South Africa, dry. Best served chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.

Vinification

• Ernie Els Big Easy Chenin Blanc 2025: 100% Chenin Blanc from low-yielding bush and trellised vines. Hand-picked early in the morning, sorted, gently destemmed and gently pressed. Fermented in stainless steel at 12 to 14°C, aged on the lees for around two months with weekly bâtonnage. No oak. Western Cape (vineyards vary by vintage).
• Brookdale Chenin Blanc Mason Road 2022: 100% Chenin Blanc from younger vines on granite soils, complemented by older parcels planted in 1985 and 1993. Minimal-intervention vinification, with a small portion aged in oak. Paarl (Brookdale Estate).
• Stellenrust Chenin Blanc 2025: 100% Chenin Blanc from 30- to 45-year-old bush vines on weathered granite soils. Short skin contact, spontaneously fermented with wild yeasts for up to three months. Mostly fermented in stainless steel, with a small portion in used French barriques (proportions vary by vintage). Aged on the lees for around five months. Stellenbosch (Bottelary Hills).
• Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc Cellar Selection 2024: 100% Chenin Blanc from bush vines. Picked early in the morning, vinified separately parcel by parcel, with 12 to 24 hours of skin contact and only free-run juice. Coolly fermented in stainless steel, then aged on the lees for two months. Coastal Region (Stellenbosch, Paarl, Swartland).
• Leeuwenkuil Chenin Blanc 2024: 100% Chenin Blanc from dry-farmed bush vines. Hand-picked in early February, whole-bunch pressed for natural acidity. Spontaneously fermented partly in 5,000-litre French oak foudres and partly in stainless steel and concrete tanks, aged for nine months before blending. Swartland.
• Stellenrust Chenin Blanc B28 Fair Trade 2024: 100% Chenin Blanc from bush vines on weathered granite soils. Gently handled, fermented with subtle oak usage. Fairtrade certified. Stellenbosch (Bottelary Hills).

Pairs with: Grilled fish, prawns, sushi, goat cheese, chicken, smoked chicken salad, risotto, flatbread, carpaccio, Thai curry and Asian cuisine. Or simply enjoyed with friends over aperitifs.