Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay 2022
Member Price €29.49
Hemel-en-Aarde means ‘Heaven on earth’ and it’s an accurate description of one of South Africa’s most beautiful and exciting wine regions.
Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are kings here - and the best examples can easily rival top Burgundy.
Berene has followed the lead of former Hamilton Russell winemakers Kevin Grant and Hannes Storm - to source grapes from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, the highest part of the valley.
The grapes here sit on the vines for 2-3 weeks longer than the rest of the valley, developing richer and more complex flavours.
Berene then ages the wine in a mixture of amphora and neutral oak barrels. The amphorae, which are big clay pots, give the wine amazing structure and minerality. Berene says Ridge fruit is perfect for clay - it supports the clean, pristine fruit and really shows off the site where the grapes are from.
It means you can actually taste the beautiful citrus blossom and white peach flavours of Chardonnay - instead of it being overpowered by oak.
By buying this wine you’re also supporting Berene on her brave journey to start a vineyard in Tesselaarsdal, the nearby village where she’s originally from, and where her ancestors lived as freed slaves.
So you get an amazing wine and help someone live their dream, what’s not to love about that?!
| Wine type | White |
| Grape(s) | Chardonnay |
| Country | South Africa |
| Region of origin | Walker Bay |
| Appellation | Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Alcohol % | 13 |
| Oak? | 33% neutral oak and 67% amphorae aged |
| Months in Oak | 5 months |
| Type of Oak | French oak |
| Allergens (e.g. does it contain Milk, Egg, Fish, Nuts) | None |
| Average age of vines | 15 years |
| Average altitude of vines (m) | 250 |
| Soil type(s) | Bokkeveld shale - clay derived soil |
| Closure Type | Cork |
| Is this wine organic? | Yes, but not certified. The farm applies organic practices like using insects instead of herbicides, etc. |
| Biodynamic? | No |
| Sustainably produced? | Yes, IPW certified |
| Suitable for vegans? | Yes |
| Ageing potential | 10 years |
| Ideal drinking window | 2021 - 2025 |
Every wine list needs a kick-ass Pinot and Chardonnay and it's hard to beat the good stuff from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in South Africa.
So when I was tipped off on an employee of the legendary Hamilton Russell Vineyards making her own wine on the side, I had to find out more.
We know how important it is to get your wine order quickly and efficiently. So we’ve partnered with UPS to offer next-day delivery on our wines.
Here’s what you need to know:
- It’s free - delivery is already included in the members' price
- It’s fast - you’ll get next-day delivery if you order before 12pm Monday-Thursday
- It’s environmentally-friendly - all of our orders are shipped carbon neutral with UPS.
We ship to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland only. €2 per case is added to all Northern Ireland orders to cover additional shipping costs. The point of sale occurs in the Republic of Ireland.
Our minimum order requirement is 6 bottles and we ship in multiples of 6’s. This can be 6 different bottles!
You may need to show your ID on delivery.
Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information.