Our 2023 White
Chenin Blanc - initially perceived as a cultivar for blending and brandy, it has grown in popularity to stand on its own two feet as a celebrated wine.​ This grape is tough, versatile, the underdog that could fight for its rightful place - just like a true South African.
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Piekenierskloof Bush Vine
Wild fermented
Started in concrete, moved to barrel to finish fermentation
12 months in the barrel - combination of first, second and third fill oak
Corked
Waxed
Bottled with a song
The direct translation of the toast-poem on the bottle
This morning, I beheld my defenses dancing in the glass,
Yet your unadorned grace is my sole golden prize.
In your eyes, palaces and kingdoms reside,
stripped of pretense,
I wish to toast all that makes us human,
honoring your presence.
May I offer my dusty truth upon a silver tray,
While you sit in the late afternoon, cicadas serenading the day?
As I sit cross-legged on the mat before you, once more,
I see we are the messengers, praying for tomorrow's
more beautiful than before
The Raafontuur white wine is a wooded chenin blanc from the Piekenierskloof region. It is produced for RAAF by Martin Lamprecht from MARRAS Wines - a good friend of Lourens and Esté. They chose this cultivar because of its origin; initially perceived as a cultivar for blending and brandy, it has grown in popularity to stand on its own two feet as a celebrated wine.
This grape is tough, versatile, the underdog that could fight for its rightful place. The above resonated with RAAF's personal journey in music. Martin and RAAF also share many business and life philosophies, which made this collaboration inevitable...​
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​​This wine is robust, yet subtle, vigorous yet elegant - something truly beautiful​.
More about the region and the bush vines that survive there
These venerable vines, with their small, concentrated yields, adapt like true South Africans to the whims of weather and rainfall, mastering the art of survival and ripening even in adversity. The wine emerges with a purity of fruit that dances on the palate, their fine textures whispering tales of resilience and history. Each glass invites you to embark on a journey, compelling you to finish the bottle and savor the rich stories woven into every drop...
Nestled high in the arid embrace of the Piekenierskloof region, at 900 meters above sea level, these tenacious bush vines thrive amidst extremes that would make any grape sing of their strength and artistry. Rooted in the ancient sandstone and granite soils, they draw from a delicate reservoir of moisture, crafting fruit that bursts with depth and complexity in every sip.