Modern alchemy with ancient soul
THE STORY OF STELLENZICHT’S 2024 ACHEULEAN CHARDONNAY
There’s something profound about a place where ancient stones lie beneath tender vine roots, a sense that time itself has shaped the land. At Stellenzicht, this is not metaphor: it’s literal. The farm is rooted in a deep and storied past, and yet its wine speaks with a fresh, modern voice. Nowhere is that harmony more evident than in the 2024 Acheulean Chardonnay, a born out of heritage and innovation.
A LAND SHAPED BY TIME
Dating back to 1692, Stellenzicht carries centuries of history on its slopes. But what really sets it apart are the Acheulean hand-axes, stone tools from the Stone Age, discovered in its ancient soils when the estate was revived in 2017. These artefacts gave birth to Stellenzicht’s flagship “Acheulean Range,” a tribute to the prehistoric legacy hidden beneath the vines.
This duality, ancient and modern, is woven into every bottle. The estate’s renewed vision gracefully balances respect for history with pioneering viticulture.
A MODERN APPROACH ROOTED IN RESPECT
The revival of Stellenzicht has been guided by regenerative farming practices, not just for productivity, but for ecological balance. The farm’s team have focused on restoring indigenous fynbos, thoughtful grazing with cattle, and replanting vineyards with a sensitive hand.
Sustainability is deeply embedded in their philosophy with the eco-wine pod, a tasting space elevated on “crow’s feet” rather than a concrete slab, which is 80% recyclable and designed to leave a minimal footprint. And symbolically, the dragonfly, which only thrives in a balanced ecosystem, is the estate’s sign of ecological health.
This is modern wine making in harmony with the land, not at its expense.
2024 ACHEULEAN CHARDONNAY: FORGED IN STONE
In this context of ancient heritage and sustainable modernity, the 2024 Acheulean Chardonnay emerges as a living story of place.
Its grapes are hand-harvested in the cool morning hours to preserve purity. The juice is gently pressed, then fermented in a blend of clay amphorae and 500-litre French oak barrels, a fusion of tradition and contemporary technique. Twelve months on the lees build a texture that is layered and complex, yet maintains a graceful restraint.
The wine carries a light straw hue, delicate and refined. On the nose, subtle whispers of apricot evoke sun-soaked orchards, softened by gentle warmth.
Elegant stone fruit and citrus notes dance together, a conversation between the influence of Stellenbosch and the crispness of modern winemaking. For the finish a clean, quiet taste lingers softly.
This Chardonnay is not about overpowering flavour; it’s about dialogue between past and present, between earth and vine, between ancient bedrock and modern craft.