This Weekend's Pick

Wine of the Weekend

Bellingham ‘Old Orchards’ Chenin Blanc 2018

You can still drink white wine in winter! You really can! Yes, it should still be served cold or cool, but so many great winter dishes are best with whites, so don’t just forget about them until spring. This week’s wine, the Bellingham Old Orchards Chenin Blanc, is a perfect winter white from South Africa, where it is currently the middle of summer. Channel the warmth of this wine’s homeland as you sip and think of the grapes of this year’s vintage, slowly ripening in the sun.

Tasting Notes: The 2018 Bellingham Old Orchards Chenin Blanc leads with ripe apple, stone fruit and lemon drop, followed by marmalade and honeysuckle that linger through the finish with a light oak spice.

Enjoy With: Roasted chicken or turkey with veggies, roast ham and potatoes, fish dishes with rich sauces, or charming on its own.

Style: A ripe, fruity, full bodied white wine.

Terroir/Region: Bellingham Old Orchards Chenin Blanc is made from predominantly old bush vines in the Voor Paardeberg and its greater region, Paarl. The Voor Paardeberg region is known for its weathered shale soils and distinctive granite outcrop, ideal for dry farming, and home to older Chenin Blanc vines. The Paarl region itself is warm and dry (sounds nice, doesn’t it?), pushing vines to produce ripe, concentrated fruit.

Producer: Bellingham was established in 1693, when visionary couple Bernard and Fredagh Podlashuk transformed a neglected farm into a winery that would pioneer many firsts in the South African wine industry. Today, while still inspired by its history of innovation, Bellingham is firmly set in the 21st century, producing structured wines with an unmistakable sense of place and style.

Availability: Bellingham Old Orchards Chenin Blanc 2018 will be available in the Vintages section of your local LCBO on Saturday February 22, as well as for online ordering. Some stores may already have it on the shelf, so stock up to last the winter or longer since this wine will age well for the next few years!

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Price: $17.95

LCBO#: 484055

Size: 750mL

Alcohol Content: 14.0% alc./vol.