Alheit Vineyards, Magnetic North, Western Cape, South Africa, 2023

Producer Profile

Established in 2010 by passionate husband-and-wife duo Chris and Suzaan Alheit, the estate is dedicated to producing world-class white wines that capture the soul of their origin.

With a particular focus on Chenin Blanc and Sémillon, Alheit Vineyards crafts elegant, expressive wines that celebrate the character and complexity of the Cape’s finest terroirs. Situated at Hemelrand on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge near Hermanus, Alheit Vineyards embraces a minimalist, hands-off philosophy in its winemaking. Their approach prioritises authenticity and transparency, using techniques such as whole-bunch pressing, wild fermentation with native yeasts, and maturation in old barrels, clay amphorae, and concrete eggs. By avoiding new oak, additives, acidification, and fining, the Alheits craft wines of remarkable purity and balance – true reflections of the Cape’s diverse terroirs.

Viticulture

Magnetic North is a single origin Chenin Blanc wine. Since its maiden vintage in 2013, this wine has become a perennial star in our line-up. Every vintage it manages to combine power and finesse in a way very few other Chenin vineyards from anywhere (not just the Cape) are able to do. Magnetic North is made from two dry farmed ungrafted (ownrooted) parcels growing on a high mountainous ridge at 520 meters above sea-level on very red iron rich sandy soil over red clay. The two parcels are quite close together on a gentle south-east facing slope. One was planted in 1984, the other in 1981. Together they comprise about 2.8Ha. Usually, they yield between 1 and 2 tons per Ha. They consider this to be one of the absolute best Chenin vineyards in the Cape.

Winemaking

The grapes were hand sorted and whole bunch pressed. The juice is very lightly settled with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation in both one foudre and one cement egg. Fermentation lasted about one month. The wine was kept on lees for around 12 months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further five months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.

Tasting Note

The nose shows grapefruit and rooibos, but it’s not that simple. There are otherworldly impressions of mountain air and sea mist here. Mystery abounds. The palate drives and drives. It shimmers and echoes.

Food Matching

Poultry, grilled pork, smoked salmon and trout.