Spier Seaward Chenin Blanc 2020

Reviewed on June 9, 2023

Spier refers to themselves as a wine farm rather than a wine estate. I love that! Their history dates to 1692, making them one of the oldest in the region. Doing the math that is 332 years.

It is located 30 minutes east of Cape Town, near the town of Stellenbosch, in the Coastal Region. Stellenbosch is the one of the oldest and most famous sub-regions in South Africa. I think of it as their equivalent of Napa Valley. I can vouch for its beauty. They may have this long tradition but they also have a modern winery with a forward-thinking approach centered around ethical farming. At Spier, ethical farming refers to the health of the soil and the people that work there. All of the water is recycled and put back into the vineyard. They have an initiative called Growing for Good that empowers communities to create positive social and environmental change.

Chenin Blanc is a grape that suffers from lack of recognition. Once people try it, they love it, but the key is to first get it in their glass. Drink Chenin Day was started in Oregon with the whole purpose to raise awareness of the grape. I am glad that they did and that South African wine producers have also jumped right in to promote their white signature grape. It thrives in the sub-Saharan sun of South Africa where it is the most planted white grape variety. In the vineyard, Chenin Blanc is a vigorous vine and is quite heat resistant. No wonder, more Chenin Blanc is grown in South Africa than the rest of the world combined!