I tend to see things through rose-colored glasses. I like to think of winemaking as a familial affair, with bottles being produced by small groups of friends and family hand harvesting and working together, doing something they love rather than the large-scale, mechanized industry that operates on most of the world's wineries. But at Alheit Vineyards, my dream-like winemaking world exists indeed. Started in 2010 by husband and wife team Chris and Suzaan Alheit, who met at Stellenbosch University in the heart of South African wine country, fell in love, travelled the world together, got married, and then travelled some more before eventually settling down on Hemelrand farm close to Hermanus and started their winemaking career with the goal of producing wines with a clear Cape identity. Their 'Cartology' cuvée is a blend of 92% Chenin Blanc and 8% Sémillon produced from old, dry-farmed, bush-trained vines located throughout the Wester Cape. The wines are whole-bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in a mixture of cement egg, old foudres, and old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasts anywhere from 3 weeks to 11 months before being blended together and allowed to rest on the lees for around 17 months prior to bottling. You'll find a wonderful nose of pear and lime, with peach and apricot, savory tree nuts and pleasant acidity leading to a long, gorgeous finish. 13.37% ABV
