Springfield Estate Wild Yeast Chardonnay 2024 R168/bottle x 750 ml

Vines are unaware that humans turn their grapes into wine. They are destined to attract birds with sugar as the lure to transplant their seeds. These favoured seeds will then have a head start in a competitive forest, for they are fertilized by the bird’s droppings.
However, should the bird not pitch the vine would very much like to re-use the sugar it had produced so laboriously. So over time it evolved an unique system to ferment this sugar. The grape will first develop a waxy layer to attract the wild yeast it so greatly desires. The yeast then breaks down the skin and ferments the sugar into alcohol. Then vinegar bacteria, also present, will turn this wild wine into an organic type of vinegar, dripping onto the forest floor to nourish the mother plant – to present a new crop of seeds next year. We allow these fickle yeasts to live in our vineyard by not applying the usual sprays to kill them. We endure their temperament while they ferment their wine in our cellar. And only if it is special enough, will we present it – like the mother vine – to the wild world.

Chardonnay 15-20 year-old vines

Origin

Robertson, South Africa

Variety

Chardonnay

Alcohol

13.5%

Vintage

2019