Testalonga Stay Brave Chenin

Country: South Africa

Region: Swartland

Grapes: Chenin Blanc 

Viticulture: Organic Farming / Natural Wine

Vinification: Grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed. Fermented in open 1500L fermenters on skin for 12 days. Pressed off into 2200L old oak foudre to finish fermentation. Indigenous yeast fermentation using ambient temperatures. The wine goes through malolactic fermentation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered with a very small amount of sulphur added before bottling.

A nose with notes of flowers, herbs and ginger before lemon and orange aromas develop. The palate displays fruit, citrus and minerals to go with
bright acidity. Light and energetic.

After travelling extensively in Portugal and Austria learning his craft Craig Hawkins returned to South Africa and became the winemaker at top Swartland estate Lammershoek. Craig now makes his own wines from various small, organic vineyard sites in Swartland and makes his wine naturally, with as little intervention as possible. The climate in mediterranean with granite soils.