Van Loveren Chardonnay 2009

History: Van Loveren has been in the Retief family for over three generations. The family moved to the Robertson valley (about 100 miles east of Cape Town) and purchased the land in 1937, naming the farm after an ancestor who had arrived in the Cape back in 1692. The size of the farm has gradually increased over the years, and is now a 200 hectare estate, with one of the most modern cellars in the Robertson area, producing a wide variety of white, red and sparkling wines. Viticulture & Vinification: Situated alongside the Breede River, the vineyards have the benefit of a unique soil type, with its high limestone and chalk content, which makes the Robertson area ideal for the production of noble white varietals. The climate is consistent, with hot days, cool nights, and low annual rainfall, so the vines receive drip irrigation, supplied from the Breede River. All the family are involved in the business, with the younger generation of Hennie, Bussell, Phillip and Neil now taking over the viticultural, winemaking and marketing roles. Having been predominantly white wine producers throughout the 1980s, the Retiefs started planting more red varietals from 1992 onwards, and recently the farm has expanded further, with another 50 hectares of new plantings, again all red varietals.