Neil Ellis Whitehall Chardonnay 2021

Growing outstanding grapes, working with the best growers and applying minimal intervention to make exciting wines with a strong sense of place is the core philosophy of Neil Ellis Wines.

Founded in 1980, two distinct styles underpin their winemaking philosophy. Their single vineyard and single block vines are celebrated for their distinctive site and sense of place and include Whitehall Chardonnay from Elgin and Klein Gustrouw in the Jonkershoek Valley. These contribute to exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay as well as old vine Grenache from Piekenierskloof.

Similarly, their wines are sourced from wards and districts that represent the best of what that region or sub-region can offer. Vines vary greatly in their soil, climatic and topographical requirements. No single vineyard can satisfy the needs of all grape varieties. They select vineyards where individual varieties excel. Emphasis placed on caring viticultural practices by dedicated growers together with careful winemaking contribute to this pursuit of excellence in the art of winemaking.

The Whitehall Chardonnay celebrates the legacy of site-selected vineyards – the grapes for this premium Chardonnay is close to the Whitehall farm from where Neil produced the first certified wine from Elgin. These vineyards are
positioned on south-facing slopes of which the soil is mainly white mineral sandstone and quartz on a clay sub-base. The vines are trellised and have access to supplementary irrigation.