The smallest things can have a large impact on how a wine is made – the soil in which the grapes are planted, when they are picked, the type of barrels they are put in. It’s the reason no two wines taste the same, even when produced under the same conditions.
Enter the Breedekloof Makers, a group of 12 like-minded winemakers committed to emphasising the quality of wine in the Breedekloof Wine Valley, where the majority of South Africa’s Chenin Blanc grapes are grown. Three years ago, the group decided to craft small boutique productions of Chenin Blanc with grapes from specially selected areas – with each batch of wine turning out completely different!
With the freedom to do as they pleased, the Breedekloof Makers experimented with different methods and techniques to produce 12 wines with varying noses, palates and personalities. Quite different to the perception of Breedekloof as a bulk producer of wine!
And although many of the participating winemakers have produced award-winning wines, the accolades are not what drives this project. Instead, it’s the initiative to uplift the Breedekloof area as a whole – from the grape farmer and winemakers to the vineyard workers and residents of the valley.
For a list of all the wineries involved in the Breedekloof Makers movement, check out their website and peruse their offerings. We can attest to their excellence.
Photography Courtesy images