Chardonnay Forum Focus on Site-specific Vineyards and Mature Wines
Friday, 9 October, 2015
De Wetshof Estate
The De Wet name is synonymous with South African Chardonnay, and now it’s time for the next generation to step to the plate and promote the country’s reputation as a world-leader in the production of quality Chardonnay.
As chairperson of the SA Chardonnay Forum, Johann de Wet from pioneering Robertson estate De Wetshof, aims to further entrench Chardonnay as the wine grape variety that is truly capable of expressing the diversity and uniqueness of South African terroir.
“Despite being a relative newcomer to the South African wine industry, Chardonnay is rapidly gaining recognition as a grape variety with which the country can compete alongside the best in the world,” says De Wet, who is in charge of marketing and viticulture on De Wetshof.
“The major reason for this is that when wine farmers began experimenting with Chardonnay planting at the end of the 1970’s and the 1980’s their objectives were driven by soil, climate and site. This commitment to location and site within South Africa’s various wine regions has led to the current situation where our Chardonnays are of an exceptionally high standard. Various commentators have even called South African Chardonnays as among the best in the New World, which is high praise indeed.”
Johann is the third generation De Wet on De Wetshof, which became known for pioneering Chardonnay in South Africa, his father Danie working tirelessly with the rest of the industry to establish this noble white grape in the country’s soils. After studying at Stellenbosch University, Johann worked at various international wine distributors as well as on wine farms to broaden his knowledge and develop the skills required to do business in today’s competitive international wine environment.
“Despite a varied experience in my training days and working in Europe and America with various facets of wine, I think I have learnt the important role that focus and direction plays in the wine world,” he says. “For me, this is in Chardonnay. Not only here at De Wetshof where my aim is to continue our reputation as a leading house of Chardonnay, but also in my work with the Chardonnay Forum where I am determined to help promote the excellence and image of South Africa as a wine country through a variety that is understood throughout the world as being the finest white wine grape.”
One of the highlights of the Chardonnay Forum’s work to date was a presentation of wines to an international audience of wine journalists, buyers and sommeliers as part of the Cape Wine 2015 showcase.
“The event was immensely rewarding on two fronts: firstly to be able to proudly present 17 South African wines from diverse regions that were each and every one of impeccable quality,” he says. “Secondly I am glad to say that the international audience were also truly impressed, insights they shared with their readers and audiences in Europe, North America and Asia.”
Here, De Wet believes Chardonnay has a key role in carrying forward the image of South African wine.
“To be appreciated for excellence, a country has to be able to interpret the great grape varieties well,” he says. “Chardonnay is one of these, and a country will be judged on its ability to make wines of unique character and top quality from omnipresent varieties that have achieved a legacy.”
De Wet says the Chardonnay Forum is committed to furthering the individual characteristics of South Africa’s Chardonnay sites.
“Stellenbosch, Elgin, Hemel-en-Aarde, Franschhoek, Paarl, Robertson...all these regions are delivering brilliant Chardonnays expressing their diverse regions of origin,” says De Wet.
“It is now time to map these sites within the regions and then to work together with the respective winemakers and viticulturists to declare these premium Chardonnay sites. Communicating this to the market will definitely find traction as hereby we will open up a whole new chapter, one accentuating South Africa’s site-specific approach to Chardonnay winemaking.”
Another aspect to underscore is the aging potential of the country’s Chardonnays.
“On De Wetshof we have always emphasised the extra dimension given to our wines after a few years in the bottle, as have other producers,” says De Wet. “During the Cape Wine tasting the Chardonnay Forum included a few flights of wine five years and older, and the general feeling was that these were just beginning to hit their straps.
“Along with a greater emphasis on site-specific winemaking, mature Chardonnays will complement the reputation this variety has developed over the past few decades. It is a space we recommend watching.”
Johann De Wet, Chairperson of the SA Chardonnay Forum
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