Le Bonheur

Stellenbosch, South Africa

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About Le Bonheur

Nestled between the Simonsberg Mountains and Klapmuts Hill, Le Bonheur Estate stands as a beacon of happiness in South Africa's esteemed wine country, Stellenbosch.

With a history dating back to the 1700s, Le Bonheur was originally a cherished stop along the journey for French Huguenots. The estate's lush landscapes and natural springs earned it the fitting name "Le Bonheur," meaning happiness.

Rooted in French winemaking tradition and bolstered by centuries of wisdom, each bottle of Le Bonheur reflects dedication to crafting timeless, elegant wines.
Situated within the Cape Floral Kingdom, the estate is proudly certified as a World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation Champion, reflecting its strong commitment to biodiversity conservation, responsible water stewardship, and long-term environmental sustainability

Representative Biography

Christine Riddell, Portfolio Ambassador

Why We're Cool

Our vineyards rise up to 450 meters above sea level, where elevation-driven cooling and marked diurnal temperature shifts preserve natural acidity and aromatic precision. Maritime airflow moving inland from False Bay moderates summer heat and extends the growing season, while granite-derived soils with excellent drainage encourage deep root systems and natural concentration, contributing to freshness, structure, and balance.

A crisp and zesty, modern style of Chardonnay. Densely packed with notes of citrus, white peach and a touch of toasted brioche

Alois Lageder

Alto Adige, Italy

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About Alois Lageder

The winery has been family-owned since 1823 and is now in the hands of the sixth generation. The key principle is Diversity is key. For Alois Lageder, diversity is in focus, it makes for more fertile soil, healthier agriculture and more life, ultimately bringing distinct character to the wines. The approach to viticulture is holistic: with animals in the vineyards, a vegetable garden, experimental creative details and a team with members from over 15 nations. Diversity inspires and challenges in the best possible way.
The wines capture the geographical and artisanal diversity of Alto Adige: fresh, lively and with a clear style. In 2004, the family vineyards began the shift to biodynamic agriculture. As of 2024, all vineyards of their approximately 60 vintner partners are working according to organic or biodynamic methods. Diversity is the basis for sustainable farming and living soils.

Representative Biography

Cristian Pisetta, Export Manager

Export Manager with over two decades of leadership experience in the global wine and spirits industry. Combines a strong academic foundation - a five-year degree in Agriculture from the University of Padova, studies in Plant Science at the University of Reading (UK), and a Wine Master’s degree from MIB School of Management in Trieste — with deep commercial expertise. Currently directs the majority of export markets for Alois Lageder, driving sustained growth and brand expansion and recognition across Europe (including Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, and Norway) as well as throughout North, Central, and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Known for driving strategic market growth, leading cross-cultural negotiations, and cultivating enduring international partnerships.

Why We're Cool

Biodynamics
Our goal is to practise agriculture in a way that’s not only healthy but also supports nature in the long term. This commitment has led us to choose the biodynamic farming method.
We have been cultivating our vineyards biodynamically since 2004 and encourage also our 60 vintner partners to adopt organic or biodynamic practices. We are convinced that sustainable agriculture requires great diversity in order to remain fertile and lively in the future.

Blomidon Estate Winery

Nova Scotia, Canada

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About Blomidon Estate Winery

Blomidon Estate Winery is a boutique winery nestled on the shore of the Minas Basin, near Canning, in the picturesque Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Our beautiful seaside setting offers a unique location for viticulture, as well as a scenic stopping point for our many visitors.

We are committed to producing 100% Nova Scotia grown grapes and wines, and are proud to have won numerous national and international awards and acclaim for our efforts. We invite you to join us and to discover our Nova Scotia wines.

Representative Biography

Simon Rafuse, Winemaker/Operations Manager

Our winemaker, Simon Rafuse, travelled the world for his wine education and work experience but was excited at the opportunity to return to his native Nova Scotia.
He attended Mount Allison University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science before earning a Master of Science degree at the University of Kent (UK) and a Master of Viticulture and Oenology degree at Montpellier SupAgro (France). He also holds the Diplôme National d’Oenologue (France).
Since 2009 he has been the Winemaker at Blomidon Estate Winery, having worked previously in Languedoc-Rousillon and Alsace (France), and Central Otago (New Zealand), and his wines have won numerous national and international awards and accolades. Simon is also an instructor with the Atlantic Canada Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers.
“What better ‘desert island’ wine can there possibly be than a crisp, complex, Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine? There isn’t. There simply isn’t. Chardonnay delivers every time.” Simon Rafuse

Why We're Cool

Blomidon Estate Winery farms two vineyards, just outside the town of Canning, Nova Scotia (45’N), our estate vineyard and our Woodside Road vineyard. The estate property sits at sea level on the shore of the Minas Basin and the Habitant River estuary, where the soils are predominantly sandy loam and the near constant breeze helps reduce frost and disease pressure. Woodside Road runs along the base of the North Mountain, a basalt ridge that forms the north boundary of the Annapolis Valley. The soils are there are a heavier red clay-loam with basalt stones. It’s warmer than the estate vineyard but can be more frost prone. The Woodside Road vineyard rises to an elevation of 60m above sea level.

At the Blomidon estate vineyard, we’re extremely fortunate to have the oldest block of Chardonnay in Nova Scotia as the backbone of our Chardonnay program. The 5 acre “Old Block”, as we call it, was planted in 1996 with a mix of clones. It sits on a gentle slope at the bottom of our vineyard, right on the shore of the Minas Basin. Our vineyards are significantly influenced by two bodies of water: The Bay of Fundy and the Atlantic Ocean. Both moderate our climate be delaying budbreak in the spring due to their cold waters and tidal movement, but also by preventing frost in the fall.
Typically, in Nova Scotia, Chardonnay will be picked in the second or third week of October for sparkling and as late as November for still wines. While we make sparkling wine every year, the still wines are only made in better vintages when the conditions allow for the longer hangtime. With such a cool growing season, the wines are lightly structured and elegant. We use a mix of stainless steel and older oak for both still and sparkling, and generally allow for up to a year of lees ageing. All our Chardonnays are whole cluster pressed.
Our goal is to work with the best fruit possible through careful attention in the vineyard, and to make pure, lithe, and defined Chardonnays that are true to their Maritime terroir.

Domaine Laroche

Chablis, France

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About Domaine Laroche

Domaine Laroche in a few words.
• Owner of 90 hectares, in the best « crus » of Chablis with 12 Premiers Crus and 4 Grands Crus, Chablis Saint Martin is the flagship in more than 90 countries.
• More than 1000 years of History. In l’Obédiencerie, birth place of Chablis in the Middle Age.
• Cellars from the IXth century
• Their XIIIth century press is one of the most remarkable masterpiecs in the burgundian wine-producing region
• The Saint Martin relics were hidden for a decade at the end of the IXth century.
• The historical cellars are kept alive by ageing all our premier and grand crus there.
• The favourite ageing containers are the 228l « piece » and the « demi-muids ».
• Domaine Laroche follows the agro ecological principles: no pesticide & no herbicide
• The vineyard has got the high environmental value certification level 3A
• All estate wines are vegan certified
Domaine Laroche is on the TOP 100 of Wine & Spirits Magazine - among the 15 French estates, among the 5 Burgundy estates, only estate in Chablis

Representative Biography

Romain Chevrolat, Winemaker

Romain Chevrolat comes from a family of Champagne winemakers, originally from Les Riceys, a commune renowned for its famous Rosé-des-Riceys wine, located nearly 50km from Chablis.
Growing up in the southern Champagne region soon sparked his interest in the world of wine and led him to begin his university career in Reims.
He graduated as an oenologist from Dijon University in 2015 and trained at Maison Louis Latour and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
From Champagne to Burgundy, Romain then moved down to the Rhône Valley to work at Domaine E. Guigal as an oenologist in 2018.
After some great successes over the last 5 vintages, he wanted to get back to the Kimmeridgian subsoil that is typical of Chablis and similar to his roots in Les Riceys.
He has joined Domaine Laroche since the beginning of July 2023 to continue revealing the exceptional terroirs and finesse of the wines.

Why We're Cool

Chablis is located in northern France in a cool continental climate region, Burgundy. Winter can be harsh. Summer is often warm but short. The blessing of the place is probably that a dry, sunny period appears in September, when grapes ripen. Cool climate is a question of terroir in Chablis. Chablis is born cool. The climate definitely influences the style of the wines: steely, pure, crisp and remarkably mineral.
Domaine Laroche vineyards are situated in the North of Burgundy, in the Yonne department, between Paris and Beaune, close to Champagne

Appellations & Planted areas (ha) – total 5589ha
Petit Chablis : Planted area (ha) 1082/19%
Chablis (yield 60 hl/ha) Planted area (ha) 3626/66%
Chablis Premier Cru (17 climats, yield 58 hl/ha) Planted area (ha) 780/14%
Chablis Grand Cru (7 climats, yield 54 hl/ha) Planted area (ha) 101/1%

Chablis Vineyards
• 100% CHARDONNAY
• 5589 Hectares
• 284 147 hl Annual Production
• 379 Producers
• 33% of Burgundy white wines
• 18% of the total Burgundy wine production
The typical Chablis limestone soils of Kimmeridgien with the presence of fossils and exogira virgula. Continental climate with cold winter, spring frost, warm summer and mild autumn.

MASSALE SELECTION
Domaine Laroche is one of the few producers in Burgundy to preserve its own vineyard ID
Reproducing new plants from our old vines from more than 50 years:
• To keep the vineyard genetic inheritance
• To keep and improve our wines characteristics (aromas,..)
• To respond to the sanitary issues and wood diseases thanks to genetic diversity
• To ensure the durability of our vineyard by cloning our old vines and adapt to new climate conditions
• The program started in 2011 observing the vineyards from 1950 in Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots. This Massale Selection was planted in 2018 in Chablis Grand Cru LES CLOS

Biodynamics methods on the Grands Crus
Why: Use the soil and the environment of the vine as a source of energy for the plant to strengthen its immunity and
its adaptation to climate change
How: Creation of a Biodynamic workshop at the Estate / Training of the team
Preparation in our historical cellars : 500P(cow dung) then dynamization with plants (yarrow, chamomile
feverfew, oak bark, dandelion, valerian)
Spraying on moist and heated ground
When: 2 to 3 times a year: after harvest, at bud burst, between flower and veraison.
Natural Seeding Cover
• After the harvest, the technical team sows a mix of seeds : Oat, Peas, Chinees radish, Turnip, Lentils

Benefits for vineyard:
✓ To stimulate the ground biodiversity
✓ To bring naturally nutritional elements to the vine in the springtime when dismantling the soil (nitrogen)
✓ To reduce erosion as 35% of our vineyard are planted on the steep hills
✓ To give a better structure to solid soils because of the use of heavy machines (natural aeration of the ground)

The Evolution of Pruning
Why: The winters being less cold, the vine has a shorter rest period and an early budburst.
The late frosts in Chablis prompted us to adapt the size of the vineyard.
How: Pre-pruning in double guyot from December to February to prepare the fruiting baguette Peeling
(known as “Plumage” in Beaune) to delay budding in March

Biodiversity is our priority
• Domaine Laroche is the only Estate in the region (Yonne department) to have signed a partnership with the league for birds protection. 10 bird nests have been installed in Vaudevey.
• We therefore take part in the reintroduction of the Athéna owl in our vineyards which has the capacity to eradicate up to 400 worms to replace the use of insecticides.
• Bat houses have been installed in Languedoc

Boschendal Wine Estate

Elgin, Overberg, South Africa

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About Boschendal Wine Estate

Boschendal lies between the Simonsberg and Drakenstein mountains an hour’s drive from Cape Town. The name Bos-en-dal, or wood and valley, reveals its essence: a breathtakingly beautiful valley basin of 1800 hectares. Location, the sheer scale, natural splendour and history make exploring Boschendal compelling. It beguiles and inspires wonder with its unique spirit of place.

One of the most established and iconic wine estates in South Africa, Boschendal constantly strives to balance tradition and innovation in wine making, appealing to a new generation of wine lovers whilst continuing to create wines with signature finesse and elegance – where one can taste the terroir in each glass.

With cottages scattered across the vast expanse and changing landscapes of the property, guests have a chance to immerse themselves into the many layers of South Africa’s second oldest wine farm. Dating back to 1685, Boschendal is a place where generations of families have worked. It is these combinations of stories and histories, mythical landscapes and mysterious mountains that compel repeat visits. Great places need time for understanding and the unravelling of their complexities.

Located near the Franschhoek Valley deep inside the Cape’s Floral Kingdom, it is a place where over 600 species of fynbos and 1000 hectares of protected nature reserve intertwine with our fruit orchards. It is a spectacular, bio-diverse environment. It is a place where grass-fed Angus cattle, forest-fed pigs and free range chickens work alongside our farmers to replenish and revitalise the soils. It is a place where our ducks help gardeners grow exquisite bio-dynamic produce for our two restaurants – we very much like the idea of farming and cooking with nature, and not against it. It is a place where guests can swim in our dams and feel comfortable picking fruit from our orchards – we like sharing our extraordinary produce. The only choice to make is whether to explore this magical place by foot, by pedal or by horse.

We recognize the uniqueness of this place as there are few places like it and feel strongly that this exceptionalism should define every guest experience. Experiences that replenish, re-energise and reveal the magic of farm living.
There is something special happening at Boschendal. We hope to see you on the farm soon!

Representative Biography

Jacques Viljoen, Cellar Master

Raised in the Cape's Winelands, his most memorable experience with wine was at the impressionable age of five during a pre-school outing to a wine cellar. After the winemaker handed out small cups of must (freshly crushed grape juice) to all the pupils, Jacques was enamoured: "It was a taste revelation. I recall the juice being so sweet and concentrated, and a very specific smell of fermentation esters floating in the air. It certainly triggered something in me," he reflects.

From there, the decision to become a winemaker came naturally. At 18, Jacques went on to study winemaking at Stellenbosch University. Following a formative period in France where Jacques learnt his style that merges classic and modern techniques. On his return to South Africa he spent a further 16 years refining his winemaking skills before joining Boschendal.

Based on his inherent love and respect of nature, Jacques endeavours to stay true to it. He is an expert in honouring terroir and the natural fruit to produce award-winning vintages. "Winemaking is like preparing a meal for someone. You know the effort that went into making it and it is rewarding to see your guests enjoy it," explains Jacques.

Jacques is particularly strategic in his response to tackling challenges of any sort, with an 'If you fail to plan, you plan to fail' perspective. Ultimately, winemaking is a team sport, and for Jacques, it is about ensuring he is able to support every person and encourage their strengths in order to reap the best results - vintage after vintage.

Why We're Cool

The grapes for the Boschendal Appellation Elgin Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are from the cool Elgin region of South Africa. Elgin is one of the coolest wine growing regions in our country and only 40 minutes from Cape Town and 15 kilometres from the Indian Ocean.

80% of the land in Elgin is used for apple and pear production, but what makes the region suitable for apples and pears, makes it even better for wine. The cooling afternoon sea breezes have a major cooling effect in this region. The valley is elevated (200 -500 metres altitude), but also surrounded by mountains, so at night all the cool air moves down to the elevated valley. In summer when the south east is blowing, the clouds builds up against the mountains which results in more cloud cover and thus reducing canopy temperature.

In South Africa where we have warm and sunny weather, this is good for quality. It is this proximity to the ocean with the daily cooling sea breezes, the slightly higher altitude and a bit of extra cloud cover that make Elgin such and great area to produce premium Chardonnay and Pinot noir. This cooler grower conditions results in slower ripening and effectively a longer hanging time on the vine.
Most of our vineyards in Elgin is planted on weathered shale soils. These soils have a very good water holding capacity due to the higher clay contents and only needs supplementary irrigation in the very dry summers. The average rainfall in Elgin is around 900 mm, and most is in the winter months, but we do also get summer rain.

The Boschendal Appellation Elgin Chardonnay 2018 is from our own Highfield farm in Elgin. Our Chardonnay vineyard is trellised and was planted in 2004. There are two clones in this vineyard CY 76 and CY277 with both origins in France. The Chardonnay vineyard is planted on a cool southern slope and exposed to the regular south- eastern and southerly winds that bring cool air every afternoon.
We do partial barrel fermentation in French Oak barrels. 15% in new 300 litre barrels, 20 % in 2500 litre Foudre’s, 35% in second fill 300 litre barrels, and 30% in 3rd fill 300 litre barrels. 30% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation. We get very good minerality form this vineyard, as well as great structure and length, with complex flavours. The most pronounced flavours apart from the minerality and slight flintiness is the citrus, lemon, grapefruit and some tropical notes.

The Boschendal Appellation Elgin Pinot Noir 2016 is from the highest planted vineyard site in Elgin. This vineyard is 500 metres above sea level. We have both clones PN777 and PN115 in this vineyard. The vineyard is on top of a hill and very exposed to cooling winds. Due to the altitude and cooler breezes the yield in this vineyard is very low (5 t/ha). The vineyard is fastidiously managed to achieve classic varietal character.

The Jean Le Long 2008 grapes are from two Chardonnay vineyards. The one vineyard is on the higher slopes of the Simonsberg, and the other vineyards from a cool site in Stellenbosch very close to the Indian Ocean and very exposed to cooling see breezes.