Food24
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Round-ups
    • New Recipes
    • Cooking with Lamb
    • Lunchbox
    • Pasta Recipes
    • South African Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Baking
    • Braai Recipes
    • Easy Weekday Meals
    • Plant-based Recipes
  • News
    • Food News
  • Videos
  • Drinks
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails
    • Coffee
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Cooking Guides and Tips
    • Create your cookbook
    • Plant-Based Family Meals
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Round-ups
    • New Recipes
    • Cooking with Lamb
    • Lunchbox
    • Pasta Recipes
    • South African Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Baking
    • Braai Recipes
    • Easy Weekday Meals
    • Plant-based Recipes
  • News
    • Food News
  • Videos
  • Drinks
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails
    • Coffee
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Cooking Guides and Tips
    • Create your cookbook
    • Plant-Based Family Meals
    • Win
No Result
View All Result
Food24
No Result
View All Result

The SA wine no one has heard of – why you should be drinking Grenache Blanc

Food24
Katy Rose by Katy Rose
April 24, 2018
in Food News
0
The SA wine no one has heard of – why you should be drinking Grenache Blanc
0
SHARES
167
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp

Images: iStock

ALSO READ: Wine sessions: What is Malbec and what does it taste like?

Producing rich, full white wines with a well balanced minerality – Grenache Blanc appeals to the wine drinkers who previously were enjoying a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Two SA wines in particular are gaining a strong following – Platter’s White Wine of the Year 2018 The Foundry Grenache Blanc and 5 star rated Fides Grenache Blanc 2016 by Bosman Family Vineyards. We talked to their wine makers about their niche success. 

A niche varietal, with mass appeal
Plantings of Grenache Blanc in the Cape are very sparse indeed but that hasn’t stopped a few bold winemakers from coaxing from these small vineyards a tremendous punch of flavour. As SAWIS put it succinctly, “plantings in the Cape are minuscule”. Chris Williams, owner and winemaker at The Foundry, produces a mere 7000 bottles of his award winning single varietal bottling of Grenache Blanc. 

When we spoke to the team at Bosman Family Vineyards, Head of Wine and Viticulture Corlea Fourie told us, “Grenache Blanc is very much a niche varietal in our portfolio and makes up 2% of our production. In terms of wines that has made a impact- it has however-and it is seen to be an envelope pushing wine.”

Bush vine vineyards yield complex fruit profile
Chris explains to us his approach to viticulture of this little-known grape: “Well, at the end of the day it’s all about the flavour profile. When made from properly sited vines which are not over-cropped, Grenache offer fresh yet restrained aromas of citrus peel, pear drops, candied apple and a touch of baking spice. Bosman Family Vineyards let their Grenache Blanc grow loosely in bush vines, which the South African public has shown a love for in the more popular styles of bush vine Chenins. 

The challenges and rewards of being a wine pioneer
Innovation and boldness in South African wine making are often rewarded with success, and such as has been the case with Grenache Blanc. Being an industry trailblazer certainly comes with its challenges, but there are some benefits too – many wine drinkers are not too sure what to expect from a Grenache Blanc and this gives the winemaker a certain freedom to present a tasting of something completely new. 

“When people taste our wine for the first time they are surprised and delighted”, says Corlea. “Luckily -most people don’t have a preconceived idea of what it might be like -the enjoyment thus almost without reservations. The challenge is that instead of just being able to market the wine (with a certain reference in mind) it’s almost an educational exercise as well.”

“If the starting point is telling authentic stories by your grapes, about a specific harvest, from a specific place-the table is set for consumers for an intimate experience with these wines.” 

Why we’re drinking Grenache Blanc
A dry, white wine made with care is a thing of beauty. Both The Fides and The Foundry GB show an elegance and sophistication, combined with supreme drinkability. Of course the long list of accolades only helps us on the way, with the Foundry wines earning a Platters 5 star award with their maiden vintage, and subsequently announced as White Wine of the Year for 2018. Owing to extended skin contact, The Bosman Fides is a wine that is moreish and elegant at the same time. 

Chris wraps it up nicely, summing up all the things we love about The Wine of the Year: This variety is all about mouthfeel- lovely fleshiness giving full mouthfeel, but kept lively by crisp acidity and a wonderful stony minerality. It has all the best parts of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay in one single wine.

ALSO READ: Well-known SA wine personality launches new online wine store

Tags: wineWine Industry


Related Posts

Partner content: Support local with Lamb and Mutton SA, The Lazy Makoti and Chef Zanele  by #SharingTheLambLove
Partner content

Partner content: Support local with Lamb and Mutton SA, The Lazy Makoti and Chef Zanele by #SharingTheLambLove

March 5, 2021
The great rim debate: The circumference vs height of drinking glasses
Featured

The great rim debate: The circumference vs height of drinking glasses

March 5, 2021
Partner content: Dried Fruit Month – celebrating the real goodness of dried fruit
Partner content

Partner content: Dried Fruit Month – celebrating the real goodness of dried fruit

March 4, 2021
Next Post
What is Anzac Day and why do we make Anzac biscuits?

What is Anzac Day and why do we make Anzac biscuits?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Food24 Team Loves

coffee

5 new coffee trends you can expect for 2021

January 20, 2021
Here’s how you can create your own personalised family cookbook

Here’s how you can create your own personalised family cookbook

December 4, 2020
roast chicken

8 ways with rotisserie chicken

September 4, 2020
4 Ways I used meal planning to save money every month

4 Ways I used meal planning to save money every month

February 20, 2019

Popular this week

  • Which is better: no-name or premium brands? We tasted 17 different products to find the best value

    Which is better: no-name or premium brands? We tasted 17 different products to find the best value

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chefs tell us 8 trade-secrets to making a truly fantastic Milk Tart at home

    23 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 27 February is Milk Tart Day: Celebrate with our greatest collection of milk tart recipes

    48 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Hassle-free family dinners: Here are 9 tray bakes we love

    21 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • If cauliflower can be pizza, it can be anything – 7 recipes that will stop you in your tracks

    4 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get weekly access to our best recipes, tips and tricks

Sign Up
Footer

Quick links

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Win

Collections

  • New Recipes
  • Lunchbox
  • South African Recipes
  • Baking
  • Braai Recipes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Dessert Recipes

Other links

  • Advertise with Food24
  • Editorial Policy
  • How to Pitch
  • Contact us

Not in the mood to cook?

Visit eatout.co.za to find the perfect restaurant near you.

eatout.co.za

© 2020 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

  • About us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Notice
  • New Media
IAB
No Result
View All Result
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Round-ups
    • New Recipes
    • Cooking with Lamb
    • Lunchbox
    • Pasta Recipes
    • South African Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Baking
    • Braai Recipes
    • Easy Weekday Meals
    • Plant-based Recipes
  • News
    • Food News
  • Videos
  • Drinks
    • Wine
    • Beer
    • Cocktails
    • Coffee
  • Newsletters
  • More
    • Cooking Guides and Tips
    • Create your cookbook
    • Plant-Based Family Meals
    • Win

© 2019 Food24.com. All rights reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Fill the forms below to register

Subscribe to Newsletter

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Close
Food24
Recipe Disclaimer

All recipe content is the responsibility of the party from whom such content originated. You agree that you use the content on Food24 at your own risk. Please read our editorial policy.