Scions of Sinai, Señor Tallos White Blend, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Bernhard Bredell is 7th gen winemaker in the lower Helderberg region and when thinking of a name he decided a play on words was needed! Scion refers to the top life bearing parts of a plant/vine or can also mean ‘the descendant of’. Sinai refers to ‘Sinai Hill’ – a granite hill in the region of lower Helderberg, to the south of Stellenbosch.

Bernhard is as low intervention as can be, he wants the wine to be a true expression of itself and so there is no manipulation, he says - “I’m not trying to be weird or funky – for me what’s most important is to have that line between vineyard and glass as uncompromised as possible,”

Chenin Blanc from 40 year old, dry farmed bush vines grown with Atlantic influence in Stellenbosch. The Grenache Blanc is grown with the same Atlantic influence in Voor Paardeberg vineyard.

The two varietals are fermented separately. The Chenin is fermented in whole berries and kept in Neutral oak for 4 weeks on the skins. The Grenache Blanc is fermented in whole bunches then fermented in stainless steel for two weeks going through a semi carbonic fermentation before being pressed and stirred with the Chenin. After 2 weeks the grapes are pressed and then ages on the lees in 225 qtr French oak barrels for 7 months. 70% of the wine is kept under flor and then blended with the rest a few days before bottling.

Producer - Scions of Sinai
Country - South Africa
Region - Stellenbosch
Variety / Blend - 50% Grenache Blanc 50% Chenin Blanc
Farming - Uncertified Organic
Vegan