Fleur du Cap Chardonnay, Western Cape

Fleur du Cap Chardonnay is a barrel-fermented Chardonnay made with grapes sourced from the Western Cape wine growing region of South Africa.

The Fleur du Cap brand is owned by Distell and was first launched in 1968, shortly after the opening of Die Bergkelder, the famous mountain cellar which cuts deep into the Papegaaiberg in Stellenbosch. Built by Dr. Anton Rupert, it was the first underground bottle maturation cellar of its kind in the southern hemisphere.

The wines are crafted from the pick of the crop in the finest vineyard sites selected for their diverse terroir and micro-climates. These are located in the Stellenbosch, Somerset West, Franschoek, Darling, Elgin and Robertson areas.  All of the vineyards are are situated within the Cape Floristic Region, the smallest, yet richest of only six such floral kingdoms in the world.

Fleur du Cap Chardonnay is made Die Bergkelder. After harvest the juice was clarified and inoculated with pure yeast. For 20% of the wine, fermentation started in tank and was completed in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels. The remaining 80% fermented in tanks on French (50%) and American (50%) oak staves. Both these portions were kept in contact with the wood for 4 months with regular lees stirring to enhance mouthfeel and ensure a rich full wine.