Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc / Viognier

In the early 1990s, Pine Ridge crafted this unusual blend as an experimental bottling and it has since become one of the estate’s most popular wines. Traditionally, in their native Franc, Chenin Blanc and Viognier would never be blended together, but Pine Ridge has proven how well suited the two are to sharing a bottle. The core of the blend, Chenin Blanc, is picked at low sugar levels to retain it’s crisp character and vibrancy, the 20% Viognier is harvested at higher sugar levels to accentuate its ripe stone fruit and floral aromas.

The resulting wine is a synergy of bright fruit and floral aromas and flavours with the zesty acidity of Chenin Blanc balanced by the viscosity of Viognier. Flavours of lemon curd, melon and sweet mango and orange blossom abound. With such balanced acidity, the wine is very versatile when pairing with food; try it with light salads to seafood to foods with a hint of spiciness as its subtle sweetness provides balance to the dish.

Blasted Church Hatfield’s Fuse

Winemaker Mark Wendenburg has put together an exuberant fruit basket, blending no less than nine white varieties: Chardonnay, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Optima and Ehrenfelser. On the nose and the palate, you get peaches, pears, apples, limes and apricots, balanced to finish dry but with just enough residual sugar to give the wine some flesh.