100% Chenin Blanc from Western Cape, South Africa. Fairtrade certified.

HISTORY: Radley & Finch is a range of varietal wines made by Thinus Kruger and Pascal Schildt. The name was inspired from the famous book: To Kill a Mockingbird, but unlike the serious nature of the book, these wines aim to reflect a typical and light-hearted style of wine true to the most enjoyed grape varieties originating in South Africa. The motto: Optimism, beats the pants off pessimism. We want these wines to be an honest path for wine drinkers to delve into the special world of premium South African wines over time.

ABOUT: The majority of the grapes for these wines come from the Voor-Paardeberg Mountain (1 hr north of Cape Town) and a small portion from Stellenbosch as well. The wines were not aged in oak (except a small portion of the Shiraz). This small wine region with only 10 miles of vine growing area is located to the north of Paarl and is found to have an exceptional terroir. The major reason for this is the placement of this region and the soil composition along with the prevailing winds. These factors altogether give a specific quality to the wine grapes, thus giving rise to the elite wine range.

VINEYARDS; The vineyards of the region are found to be extended till the southeastern slopes of Paardeberg Inselberg, and are located high in the mountains. This way, these vineyards benefit from the well-drained soils that are rich in potassium, which is an important nutrient for the maintenance of vine health. These traits, along with the deep root systems, help nourish healthier and stronger vines.

VINIFICATION: This wine undergoes a long natural fermentation with temperature controls to preserve the delicate aromatics. Fermentation lasted around 3-6 weeks adding more complexity to the wine. It is then bottle aged for several months prior to release.

TASTING NOTES: A good example of why Chenin has for a long time been the workhorse and favorite in South Africa but is now starting to be recognized all over for its versatility and brilliantly defined fruit flavors. Balancing white cereal and stone fruit with yellow citrus and hints of lifted spice.

FOOD PAIRING: A firm favorite with Fish and Seafood off the Grill, and also a fine partner for Fresh Produce and Pastas - especially Seafood or White Sauce Pastas. This wine will also pair nicely with Spicy dishes, with Snacks, and with Cheeses.