Willie and Emma Dreyer are the proud owners of Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards aka “Lion’s Lair” named after the ferocious Cape Lion that roamed the region hunting unsuspecting cattle. Back in 1693 this vineyard was originally known as Schinderkuijl, which is a German name referring to the tradition of gathering materials from demolished buildings or shipwrecks to create something entirely new - wonderfully apt considering the processes carried out on the farm. 

Willie and Emma met at the age of 16 and together they have built Leeuwenkuil into a successful winery. Hardworking and passionate, Willie has a particularly hands-on approach to wine farming and studiously tends to his land from dusk until dawn. He inherited half of the farm, which back then comprised of 45 hectares of vineyards but over the past 30 years, they have built Leeuwenkuil into what it is today – 1250 hectares of thriving vineyards producing a wide range of excellent wines. Emma grew up a mere two farms north of Leeuwenkuil and has a first-hand grasp of all facets of farming. She is the one who brings the Leeuwenkuil family together, always making sure everyone here is as happy as can be.

The Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards is driven by two resilient forces – quality time and quality wine, meaning the range of wines offer excellent value for money. Natural fermentation and low sulphur levels are part of the winemaking philosophy and the same attention to detail apply for all their range of wines. Could you ask for a more perfect farming ethos?

Tasting Note:
This Chenin Blanc is sourced from dryland farmed vineyards in the prestigious Swartland region of the Western Cape. These conditions naturally limit the crop and produce ripe Chenin berries with fresh and clean acidity. The 2022 Chenin is more serious than previous vintages because a bigger portion of older bush vine vineyards were used. 

This is a refined white with aromas of tropical fruit and green apple. Its crisp minerally style combined with time spent on lees leads to a fleshy lees and drying finish.