In 2007 we saved it from being uprooted, just to give this ancient vineyard a chance to express itself on its own, and we were astounded at the wine’s depth of character and complexity of flavour. Ever since, year after year, we’ve sensitively tweaked our winemaking technique to bring out the very best of this gracious ‘grande dame’ vineyard planted in 1952.

Optenhorst Chenin Blanc Vineyard

The Optenhorst Chenin Blanc has won prizes galore vintage after vintage, one being for the 2013 which, at the Investec Trophy Wine Show in 2023, was awarded the trophy for Best Museum Class Chenin Blanc, showing the wine’s excellent ageing potential.

Emboldened by its proven age-ability, we held back a small batch of the 2019 vintage.

Optenhorst Chenin Blanc - Plak
Optenhorst Chenin Blanc - Bottle in the vineyards

Not only did this vintage win two awards at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show: the Harold Eedes Trophy for the Best Chenin Blanc on show; and the inaugural Rosa Kruger Trophy for the Best Old Vine Wine, but the vintage also won a Gold Medal at the Global Wine Challenge and scored an impressive 94 points in the Tim Atkin Report.

In wine-speak it’s called a Vintage Release when a small batch of wine is ‘re-released’ a few years later, to give wine lovers a chance to appreciate a beautifully matured wine.

There are only 200 bottles of the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2019, and it is on sale for R500 per bottle. So, we hope you will indulge yourself and acquire a bottle or two.

Bosman Wine Optenhorst Chenin Blanc on the back of a van

Perhaps taste it alongside a later vintage to appreciate it fully or open it with special life-long friends in appreciation of longevity and the finer things in life.

Shop now: https://shop.bosmanwines.com/product/optenhorst-chenin-blanc-2019

ABOUT BOSMAN WINES

THE BOSMAN FAMILY HAVE BEEN VINE GROWERS IN WELLINGTON FOR 8 GENERATIONS, THEIR PROUD HERITAGE FORMING THE BEDROCK FROM WHICH INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ARE A NATURAL PROGRESSION.

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