Brookdale Estate - 'Mason Road' - Chenin Blanc - Paarl, ZA - 2024

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Wine Background Made by Kiara Scott Farmer, South Africa's Winemaker of the Year, 2024. 100% Chenin Blanc from young and old vines in the heart of Paarl, South Africa. Young vines bring freshness, while older vines reveal the vineyard’s signature granite and saline minerality. The majority of the blend is fermented and aged in stainless steel for vibrancy, with 20% from older vines (1994 planted) in French oak adding depth, richness, and complexity. This layered Chenin Blanc finishes long and elegant, offering exceptional quality at a friendly price. Tasting Note Bright and lively on the nose with aromas of yellow apple, pineapple, and sweet orange zest. The palate shows lemon, yellow and green apple, toasted almond, biscuit, and subtle warming oak spice. A touch of salinity balances the fruit, while zippy Chenin Blanc acidity gives lift and energy. Region & Vineyard Sourced from regeneratively farmed vineyards in Paarl, South Africa, with a mix of young and old vines planted on granite-rich soils. These terroirs highlight both freshness and minerality, making this Chenin Blanc expressive and site-driven. Food Pairing Pairs beautifully with fresh seafood, shellfish, roasted chicken, creamy pastas, and soft cheeses. The wine’s salinity and bright acidity make it versatile with a range of flavorful dishes.

Notes on the Producer

Chapter One – Founding of Brookdale Estate The story of Brookdale Estate begins with the vision of Tim Rudd, a UK-native who purchased the historic, yet neglected wine farm and converted it into a thriving estate. Named after the hamlet where Tim was born, Brookdale has been transformed into one of the most beautiful wine farms in South Africa known for exceptional quality, sustainable and minimal interventionist approaches, and a world-class hotel and bistro on site. After Rudd purchased the farm, he hired Duncan Savage – one of South Africa’s most famous winemakers – to consult. They embarked on a multi-year vineyard revitalization program with an emphasis on sustainability. Any old vine heritage stock in good condition was revitalized; any too far gone, was replanted. They were able to save a tremendous amount of legacy stock and today, Brookdale Estate is home to several blocks of vines that are more than 25 years of age. There are even several blocks that are more than 35 years of age, allowing them to be certified as Heritage Vines by the Old Vine Project. Today, Brookdale produces a seductive Heritage Vine Chenin Blanc that annually receives top awards; a unique sixteen grape white field blend; and the super-tasty everyday price point young vine series, Mason Road. Chapter Two – Kiara Scott Farmer, South Africa’s Winemaker of the Year, 2024 Not long into his time at Brookdale, Savage brought on Kiara Scott Farmer, a young intern who would quickly become one of South Africa’s winemaking stars. He saw tremendous potential in Kiara and time would prove this true. In 2019, after Savage departed to focus entirely on his own label, Brookdale appointed Kiara as their head winemaker, which made her the youngest head female winemaker in South Africa at 26 years of age! Without missing a beat, she led the estate to become a top producer in South Africa. Kiara is as hard a worker as they come. She graduated from Elsenburg Ag. Tech (Africa’s first-ever agricultural training center) in viticulture and from Stellenbosch University in winemaking. She has also made wine in France – in Condrieu and Sancerre – and at Hartford Court in the Russian River Valley. All of this was before she was 25 years of age! After her university and international winemaking experience, Kiara was selected to be a participant in the prestigious Cape Winemakers’ Guild (CWG) Protégé Program. This program offers a small group of talented young winemakers the opportunity to partake in three, one year winemaking internships at member-winery cellars. The wineries supporting the CWG are the best in South Africa and become members to promote knowledge-share in the industry. A rising tide lifts all boats! Kiara’s last year in the program brought her to work with Duncan Savage, which is where her and Brookdale’s stories merge. She finished out the three-year program as Savage was leaving Brookdale. Her charisma, talent, and hard work paid off, earning her the head winemaker position. “I have a simple and minimal intervention approach to winemaking. I believe that great wines are made in the vineyard. Year-on-year, I am aiming to better understand our vineyards and soils to make the work in the cellar easier,” said Kiara. Chapter Three – Xander Sadie and Shanice du Preez, South Africa’s Rising Stars

As Brookdale Estate continues to evolve, the next chapter of its story brings new energy and promising talent into the cellar. Enter Xander Sadie and Shanice du Preez—two young and incredibly dynamic winemakers set to carry Brookdale’s vision forward.
Xander Sadie, a rising star in South African winemaking, joined Brookdale as head winemaker just in time for the 2025 harvest. Before taking the helm, he was the winemaker at Blank Bottle, a Stellenbosch producer known for its minimal intervention approach. Xander has been involved in winemaking his entire life, however, as his legendary father, Eben Sadie, founded the most sought-after wines in the country, Sadie Family Wines. Although Xander’s a young-buck, he’s an old-soul, and quite literally has an entire lifetime of knowledge on South African wine.
Joining him in the cellar is Shanice du Preez, an exceptionally talented assistant winemaker whose career has been on a meteoric rise. A graduate of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Program, Shanice spent her final year under the mentorship of Duncan Savage – at his eponymous winery, Savage – refining her skills at one of South Africa’s most forward-thinking wineries. Her journey has also taken her abroad, working at one of our favorite Duoro Valley estates, Wine & Soul (Portugal), where she deepened her understanding of old-vine winemaking and traditional techniques.
Together, Xander and Shanice represent the next generation of Brookdale’s winemaking philosophy. They are taking the reins at an exciting time, carrying on the incredible work Duncan and Kiara have done – and continuing to raise the awareness of the estate as one of the best in South Africa. The future has never looked brighter.

-Culture Wine Imports
www.culturewineco.com