Lake Khera from Noble Estates Wines & Spirits tells the story of the Winery of Good Hope.
A great winery must do more than just produce great wine. Producing great wine is not an easy task, by any means. It takes hard work, passion, and even luck. But there are enough wineries out there growing, fermenting, and bottling high quality wine that something more is needed – a narrative, a philosophy, a history – to break what can begin to seem monotonous and safeguard a place in the wine drinker’s memory.
There is no one single characteristic that defines these wineries – in order to stand out, they all must be unique in their own way. Some might have had an integral role in the development of wine in their region, or might focus on the revival of a certain tradition. Some have a maverick winemaking philosophy, while others have a more humanistic view of the winemaking process.
In recent memory, the Winery of Good Hope is one that stands out more than most. Their philosophy runs through every facet of the winemaking process, including how they interact with the natural world and society around them.
Rather than blindly respecting tradition, they do whatever it takes to heighten individuality and expressiveness in their wines. Instead tearing up old Chenin Blanc bush vines to focus on more easily commercialized grape varieties, they continued to make these wines despite the “low caste” status they held.
Interestingly enough, they do not submit their wines for awards or competitions. In this regard, they are not alone. Increasingly, many wineries are rejecting this system. To them, being a great winery has nothing to do with glory.
Their most unique quality, however, is their commitment to social upliftment and the betterment of their community. They have established a trust, “Land of Hope”, with the goal of increasing the well-being of their employees through intellectual, social, and economic development. . To them, this isn’t “corporate social responsibility”, but rather doing the right thing.
This commitment isn’t what makes their Chenin taste great. That comes from the soil, climate, and care. This commitment is what makes them a great and memorable winemaking team.
The 2013 vintage of Vinum Africa Chenin Blanc from the Winery of Good Hope has landed on the shelves of LCBO Vintages at $15.95 a bottle. Click here to find a store stocking the Vinum Africa Chenin Blance near you.
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