Craven Vineyards Chenin Blanc

Mick Craven and his wife Jeanine started Craven Wines in 2014, sourcing fruit from single vineyard sites in and around Stellenbosch, making site-specific, honest wines. The pair met whilst working in Sonoma, California, before both moving to South Africa in 2011.

In terms of 'winemaking' they like to keep things as simple as possible, letting the grapes do the talking. All fruit comes only from vineyards whose farmers are dedicated to working their land organically, and they prefer to pick early to best reflect the site and vintage.

They do not use cultured yeasts, enzymes, fining agents, etc. throughout the winemaking process. They also only use older oak and allow their wines to stabilise naturally, if they so want to. The only thing they do add is just a tiny amount of SO2 before bottling.

Being a South African producer, making a Chenin Blanc was inevitable, but Mick and Jeanine were biding their time. In 2015, they stumbled across a vineyard up in the Polkadraai Hills that had just what they were looking for. The fruit these vines were producing was designated for making sweet wine. However, when approached about making a dry white with his grapes, the grower jumped at the chance

Aged in neutral oak, it’s full of citrus, crisp apple and white peach flavours. A razor-sharp Chenin full of energy, snappy acidity and a salty finish. Take note.