Luddite - 'Saboteur White' - Chenin Blanc Blend - Cape South Coast, ZA - 2024

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Wine Background 73% Chenin Blanc, 15% Blanc Fumé, 10% Viognier, 2% Semillon – Luddite Wines, Cape South Coast, South Africa 2024 marks the first inclusion of Sémillon, adding a subtle new dimension to this Luddite white blend. The harvest was split by a week of intense heat, with most fruit brought in early to preserve freshness and full-bodied texture. Chenin Blanc and Viognier spent 10 days on skins with twice-daily punch-downs for tannin, structure, and texture. Post-press, the must was aged in seasoned French oak for 11 months with regular bâtonnage, while a small portion of Chenin Blanc fermented in tank to lift fruit expression. Blanc Fumé was whole-bunch pressed and sent directly to barrel without settling. Tasting Note Bone-dry with a pithy citrus core, this wine displays peach and apricot blossoms, gentle salinity, and pillowy texture. Aromatic and textural, Luddite’s hallmark suppleness shines through, making it approachable yet deeply expressive. Vineyard Sources - Bot River – Wildekrans Chenin Blanc, Barton Chenin Blanc, Gabriëlskloof Viognier, Escape Wines Sémillon - Stanford – Stanford Hills Chenin Blanc - Elgin – Elgin Ridge Sauvignon Blanc Food Pairing Pairs beautifully with seafood like oysters, grilled prawns, or white fish, as well as creamy vegetable dishes, roasted chicken, or goat cheese. Its vibrant acidity and mineral texture elevate both light and flavorful dishes.

Notes on the Producer

Niels and Penny met at a friend’s 21st birthday party in 1985, where they discovered that they were both going to be attending Elsenburg Agricultural College in the new year. They became close friends at college, and romance blossomed late one night cramming for exams. He passed, she failed, but they’re still together. On finishing their studies, a desire to make wine but with no access to vineyards (these were the dark days in South Africa), Penny and Niels left the country in 1989. 1995 saw the Verburg family return to South Africa from Europe. Niels had worked as a flying winemaker in France, Chili, New Zealand and Australia, and even managed to make wine in Greece. A longing to work on a small farm led them to Bot River. After 8 vintages at Beaumont, they moved up the hill to a 16 hectare patch of land. Thirty years later, with three kids and six dogs, the Verburgs are happy on their hill, and Luddite wines has evolved into an established and respected brand.