DESCRIPTION

Made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes sourced in Stellenbosch on decomposed granite soils. The grapes were whole-bunch pressed, then left to ferment naturally in a 500L barrel. The wine remained on thick lees for 10 months to encourage development, with minimal sulphur added late just before being bottled in January 2025. Residual Sugar 2.6 g/L. Bottled at 13.5%. (Bottle size 750ml)

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Yellow stone fruit layered with citrus and grapefruit rind, lifting into gentle nutmeg spice as the wine warms in the glass.

Palate: Stone fruit carries through with clarity, joined by a lightly pithy texture that adds grip and presence. The mid-palate is bright yet measured, combining fruit purity with subtle lees weight.

Finish: Balanced and sustained, driven by tangy acidity and a fine, textural dryness; tannins are minimal but the pithiness offers a delicate structural echo.

Tembela is the project of winemaker Banele Vakele, whose journey from Khayelitsha to Elsenburg Agricultural College, through the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme, his work at Savage Wines, and international harvests in Burgundy, Yarra Valley and Oregon, has shaped his philosophy: minimal intervention, sustainable viticulture and wines that reflect place and story. Named after his late mother, Tembela means “to have faith or trust or hope,” grounding the brand in personal legacy. The label artwork features two women, one honouring his mother, the other acknowledging the collective influence of the women who support us, from aunts to sisters. His winemaking is intentionally restrained, relying on thoughtful vineyard selection, gentle extraction, wild fermentations and patient élevage to allow authenticity to take the lead. In this way, Tembela represents sincerity, heritage and culture. Respecting the land and the life stories woven into them.

CHENIN BLANC WHITE WINE