Waterford Old Vine Project Chenin blanc 2025

The Waterford Old Vine Project Chenin Blanc is a premium Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc built around remarkable old-vine fruit, with the dominant vineyard dating back to 1966. These historic vines form part of South Africa’s Old Vine Project, which protects and celebrates vineyards of 35 years and older.

The old vineyard is situated in the Bottelary area of Stellenbosch, where naturally low yields from mature vines provide concentrated fruit with impressive depth and texture. Rather than masking this character with new oak, Waterford uses concrete egg-shaped vessels for fermentation and maturation, allowing the Chenin Blanc’s fruit, minerality and vineyard character to remain at the forefront.

The result is a beautifully textured yet vibrant expression of old-vine South African Chenin Blanc, combining ripe stone and tropical fruit with freshness, minerality and subtle lees-derived complexity.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Bright straw-yellow with subtle golden and green highlights.

Nose: Expressive and layered, with vibrant tropical fruit accompanied by white peach and white nectarine. Delicate floral and mineral nuances provide additional complexity as the wine opens in the glass.

Palate: Textured and refined. Ripe stone fruit and tropical flavours are joined by a subtle melon richness, while classical Chenin Blanc acidity provides freshness and balance. The concrete maturation contributes texture without introducing overt oak flavours.

Finish: Long, pure and mineral-driven, with lingering stone fruit, gentle citrus freshness and a fine savoury edge.

Technical Details

• Producer: Waterford Estate
• Range: Old Vine Project
• Country: South Africa
• Region: Stellenbosch
• Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Dominant Vineyard: Planted in 1966
• Vine Classification: Certified Heritage Vineyard / Old Vine Project
• Viticulture: Old bush vines
• Harvesting: Hand-harvested
• Fermentation: Concrete egg-shaped vessels, with vintage-dependent use of a small neutral-barrel component
• Maturation: Predominantly concrete eggs
• Winemaker: Mark le Roux
• Style: Dry, textured and mineral-driven
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• ABV: 13,42%
• Closure: Cork