presented by Andy Woolgar from Elephants Corner
Bellevue Chenin Blanc 2026
The historic Bellevue Estate in Stellenbosch stands as a foundational pillar of South African viticulture. While globally legendary for its historical connection to red cultivars, the property produces incredibly exciting expressions from its Certified Heritage white blocks. Winemaker Wilhelm Kritzinger handles some of the oldest average vine ages in the region, utilizing old dryland bush vines that have weathered decades. Planted in weathered granite topsoil with crumbly clay subsoils on southern-facing slopes, the rows are carefully aligned north-south to manage solar accumulation.
The 2026 vintage of this Chenin Blanc delivers a wonderfully full, fruity, and mineral-laden presentation. Harvested carefully from vines planted back in 1976—affectionately known as the “Eselgraf” or retired mule paddock block—the grapes are barrel-fermented inside fine French oak casks to seamlessly match fruit concentration with soft structural weight
Appellation: W.O. Stellenbosch, Coastal Region, South Africa
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc – ABV: 12.99%
Tasting notes: Full, fruity, and mineral-fresh. It layers pronounced aromas of white pear blossom, peach, and lychee over a beautifully balanced, rounded palate featuring racy acidity and a crisp, mineral finish.
Pairing: Best enjoyed on its own or for al fresco dining. At the table, its rich texture serves as an exceptional companion to mild curry dishes, creamy pastas, or a board of sharp Cheddar and Gruyère cheeses.
Producer: Bellevue Wine Estate
Carinus Colombard 2025
Carinus Family Vineyards is an artisanal South African collaboration spearheaded by cousins Danie and Hugo Carinus. Rooted in five generations of agricultural dedication across the Western Cape, the duo targets premium grape growers to focus heavily on site purity and low-intervention cellar work. Historically in South Africa, Colombard was primarily utilized as a high-yielding component base for distillation. However, by tapping into rugged, dry-farmed bush vines anchored in the ancient soils of the Swartland, Carinus has successfully elevated this grape into a highly sought-after, premium varietal wine.
The 2025 Swartland Colombard represents a highly energetic, transparent, and brilliantly structured white wine. Processed using purely natural fermentation techniques inside neutral oak and stainless steel, the winemaking team blocks heavy manipulation to guarantee the wine captures its raw varietal tension.
Appellation: W.O. Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa
Grapes: 100% Colombard – ABV: 12.5%
Tasting notes: Lean, exceptionally fresh, and saline-driven. Showcasing punchy upfront aromas of lime, grapefruit, and green apple, it transitions into a weighted palate held upright by mouthwatering acidity and a distinctive salty crunch.
Pairing: Serve well-chilled at 8–10°C. Its bright, mouth-puckering profile makes it an incredible match for fresh coastal seafood, raw oysters, tempura calamari, or light summer starters.
Producer: Carinus Family Vineyards
Bellevue Pinotage 2023
The legendary heritage of the Morkel family at Bellevue Estate remains fundamentally intertwined with South Africa’s red wine identity. In 1953, PK Morkel boldly planted a unique, newly created cultivar: a genetic cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault known as Pinotage. Bellevue went on to commercially bottle and release the nation’s very first award-winning Pinotage in 1959, serving as a global touchstone for the variety. The grapes for this “Estate” tier selection are harvested from old dryland bush vines planted between 1959 and 1996 across a patchwork of decomposed granite and clay soils within the Bottelary Hills.
The 2023 vintage stands as an incredibly polished, fruit-driven, and internationally acclaimed expression. Following a cold soak period to extract rich, pure color, the juice undergoes a four-day fermentation inside steel vats with aerated pump-overs before being matured for 12 months in French-coopered American oak barrels.
Appellation: W.O. Bottelary, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grapes: 100% Pinotage – ABV: 14%
Tasting notes: Joyful, fruit-forward, and substantive. It balances rich aromas of black plum, sweet violet petals, and blueberry crumble against a soft, supple palate marked by silky tannins and a savory hint of licorice.
Pairing: Best enjoyed at a cellar temperature of 16–18°C. This structured red serves as a magnificent companion to traditional South African braais, roast beef, rich oxtail stews, or even a braaied galjoen.
Producer: Bellevue Wine Estate
Swerver Drifter Cinsault
“Swerver” (which translates to Nomad or Wanderer in Afrikaans) is the highly celebrated personal project of dynamic winemaker Jasper Wickens in the Malmesbury region of the Swartland. Wickens focuses heavily on minimal intervention, sourcing his fruit entirely from old, un-irrigated bush vines planted in the iron-rich decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg and surrounding hills. This specific bottling, often exported under the label “The Drifter,” was born as a creative side project. Wickens relies exclusively on old-vine Cinsault—traditionally a heavy blending workhorse—to craft a pure, single-varietal red that demonstrates lightness and aromatic complexity.
The current vintage of this Cinsault is a remarkably bright, wild, and incredibly pure expression that sees absolutely no wood aging to let the unmasked fruit signature take center stage. Harvested by hand from dry-farmed bush vines that are over 50 years old, it relies on natural yeast fermentations to trap its raw, crunchy energy.
Appellation: W.O. Swartland, Malmesbury, Coastal Region, South Africa
Grapes: 100% Cinsault – ABV: 13.5%
Tasting notes: Wild, perfumed, and bright. It highlights striking aromas of red berries, wild plum, and earth, giving way to a crisp, juicy palate balanced by crunchy fruit flavors, fine-grained tannins, and an alluring pink peppercorn finish.
Pairings: Best enjoyed slightly chilled at a cool cellar temperature of 14–16°C. An exceptionally versatile red wine, it pairs beautifully alongside a savory rabbit with olives, charcuterie boards, or roasted poultry.
Producer: JC Wickens Wines (Swerver)
