M.A.N. Family Wines -- 2019 “Free-Run Steen” Chenin Blanc -- Paarl, South Africa

M.A.N. Family Wines -- 2019 “Free-Run Steen” Chenin Blanc -- Paarl, South Africa

Regular price
Sold out
Sale price
$10.00

As we reviewed the information on this wine and winery, a longtime dream of traveling to South Africa to safari by day and wine taste by night was painfully reawakened during this time of Covid. We guess we’ll have to travel via wine glass, for now, to the beautiful Paarl region, bounded by the dramatic Boland Mountains on the East and Paarl Rock on the West. Many of South Africa’s most famous wineries are located here, and this winery, started in 2001, takes its name from the first initials of the wives of the three founders. This particular wine has long been one of the best values in the wine world. Certified sustainably and socially responsibly farmed, the hand harvested, non-irrigated Steen (the traditional South African name for Chenin Blanc) gives low yields of concentrated fruit. The grapes are crushed and then placed in large colanders to allow the free-run juice to drain, which avoids any bitterness or tannins from pressing the skins and seeds to extract more juice. Slow, cold fermentation keeps the focus on the fresh fruit qualities of apple, quince and stone fruit. Chenin has naturally high levels of acidity, which accounts for its dominant place among South African white wine grapes, where even vineyards directly on the coast experience plenty of sun and warmth. This is a versatile food-pairing wine that will accompany poultry, seafood, and veggies, but which can perform solo on a warm patio.