Apeloko 2018 Chenin Blanc South Africa

Apeloko directly translates to “the man who stays late at the farm,” and sometimes that’s what it takes to make a truly amazing wine. This South African Chenin Blanc comes from decades-old vines that produced hearty grapes for a wine with beautiful notes of Fuji apple, candied lemon, and a vibrant acidity. It’s a concentrated Chenin Blanc that is still easy to enjoy. The flavors and acidity can stand up to some very rich foods. We want to try this with pâté, fresh tuna, and roasted chicken at the end of a long day’s work.

The winery responsible for making this wine is Babylon's Peak, which is nestled on the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountains. It's a family-run cellar currently in its fourth generation. Winemaker Stephen Basson uses his upbringing at the vineyard to drive his winemaking process and focuses on making wines that truly represent the terroir of South African soils.

Judges love it too! It took home 91 Points and a Gold medal from the 2019 Critics Challenge International Wine Competition and another Double Gold medal from the 2019 Harvest Challenge.