2023 Ava Marie Hemel-en-Aarde Chardonnay, Restless River

• Style: Cool-climate Chardonnay, barrel-aged with mineral grip
• Taste: Struck match and lime with buttery richness, saline snap
• Food: Grilled fish, roasted chicken, soft cheeses, pasta
• Occasion: Date night, gifting, solo sipping
• Serve: Chilled, drink now through 2029

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Struck-match minerality and lime meet generous barrel warmth in this Upper Valley expression. The 2023 vintage delivers textured length and a persistent saline snap—cool-ripened fruit that refuses to slouch into softness. What you're tasting is the granitic bedrock: rocky soil speaking through lemongrass top notes and a grip that keeps the wine honest alongside your plate or standing alone.

The Winery — Restless River

Craig Wessels, self-taught, spotted winemaking potential when he and Anne purchased a former sheep farm in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley two decades ago. The land held the region's oldest vines—Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon planted in 1998—waiting for the right hand. Working from a converted garage, Wessels applied classical discipline: whole-bunch pressing, spontaneous oak fermentation, and twelve months in French oak and terracotta. The 2023 has spent eighteen months in bottle before reaching you, ensuring it drinks beautifully now while retaining five or six years of cellaring potential. Sustainable, vegan farming underpins every vintage.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Atlantic proximity and 270-metre altitude in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley keep daytime temperatures low, building acidity that makes this wine a natural companion to poultry, shellfish, white and oily fish, and pasta. Pair with grilled flatfish or creamy preparations; it also sings alongside soft cheese. Chill to serving temperature and pour when you want a wine that proves why cool-climate Chardonnay matters—one that balances generosity with structure. Whether gifting to a keen drinker or treating a date night to something quietly ambitious, this is a genuine find. Explore our South Africa range to discover what else emerges from this corner of the Cape.