Alcohol: 13.5 %
Grape(s): 100 % Chenin Blanc (dry-farmed bush vines, planted 1977)
Location: Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tasting Notes: Limpid pale gold. The nose opens with ripe quince, yellow apple, and white peach, framed by orange blossom, honeysuckle, and flinty wet-stone aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate, combining juicy orchard fruit with zesty Meyer-lemon acidity and a fine, chalky texture. Subtle notes of almond cream and beeswax emerge, leading to a long, saline, mouth-watering finish.
Notes: “First Light” is picked at dawn from a single east-facing block on decomposed granite and clay at 280 m altitude. Whole-bunch pressed; fermented with native yeasts in a combination of older French barriques (≈70 %) and concrete egg (≈30 %). Aged 9 months on gross lees with occasional bâtonnage; bottled unfiltered with minimal SO₂. Vegan-friendly and sustainably farmed.
Food Pairing: Pair with seared scallops, grilled prawns, lemon-herb roast chicken, creamy pasta with mushrooms, mild curry, or goat-milk cheeses.
Winery Story: Remhoogte Estate, established 1812 on the southern slopes of Simonsberg, has been owned by the Boustred family since 1993. Practising regenerative agriculture, they maintain diverse cover crops, herd Nguni cattle for natural fertiliser, and irrigate only when necessary. Their aim: wines of purity and place that capture the cool mountain breezes, rocky soils, and dramatic day–night temperature swings of the property.
