Welgegund Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024

Welgegund Heritage Wines is a historic family farm in Wellington, where old character vineyards are farmed with a focus on expressing the estate’s distinctive terroir. The Old Vine Chenin Blanc comes from a Certified Heritage Vineyard planted in 1974. These dryland, low-yielding vines grow in ancient decomposed granite soils, which contribute to the wine’s freshness, texture and mineral character. For the 2024 vintage, the Chenin Blanc grapes were hand-harvested in the early morning and chilled before whole-bunch pressing. Part of the wine was fermented in 500-litre French oak barrels, while other portions were fermented separately using different yeast strains before being brought together. The wine was aged for 12 months before blending. It is a thoughtful combination of old-vine fruit, careful winemaking and the natural character of Wellington.

Colour: Bright straw-gold with a clear, youthful appearance.
Nose: Ripe pear and stone fruit lead, followed by fresh citrus blossom and delicate floral notes. There is a subtle mineral character in the background that adds freshness and complexity.
Palate: Crisp and elegant, with ripe pear, stone fruit and ruby grapefruit flavours. Fresh acidity gives the wine energy, while the old-vine fruit and partial French-oak fermentation contribute a rounded, textured feel. The decomposed granite soils add a subtle mineral quality that keeps the palate focused rather than heavy.
Finish: Long and refreshing, with grapefruit and ripe stone fruit lingering alongside a gently textured, mineral finish.