Introducing the benchmark of South African Chenin, one that has to find its place in your cellar asap as these wines tend to sell out in NZ very quickly!
DeMorgenzon, meaning 'the morning sun' in Dutch, is a historic South African vineyard tracing its lineage back to 1682. This 91-hectare garden vineyard, perched above the Stellenboschkloof Valley, offers panoramic views of Cape Town, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Hangklip, the Hottentots Holland mountains, Helderberg, and Simonsberg, with the ocean as a backdrop.
Under the visionary ownership of Wendy and Hylton Appelbaum, the estate underwent a revitalisation since 2003, prioritising biodiversity and environmental preservation.
DeMorgenzon's unique touch lies in the melodies of classical music that echo throughout the vineyards, winery, and cellar, nurturing the growth of healthy vines and ensuring desired phenolic ripeness. With south and southeast-facing vineyards at 200 to 400 meters, featuring ancient, decomposed granite soils, DeMorgenzon produces wines of finesse and pure fruit expression.
Guided by winemaker Alastair Rimmer, DeMorgenzon upholds its reputation for crafting exceptional wines that reflect the terroir and rich heritage of South African winemaking.
Sourced from south-facing vineyards, these grapes enjoy gentle morning sun and granitic soils for natural acidity and concentrated flavours. With a delayed bud break and uneven flowering, warm weather in January balanced the growing season. The harvest progressed steadily, allowing focused attention to each parcel. Grapes were harvested in the cool morning, spontaneously fermented in tanks and oak barrels, and aged on fine yeast lees before bottling.