2022 · Polkadraai Heuwels Chenin Blanc

Carinus Vineyards is a fifth-generation, family-owned operation in South Africa’s Western Cape, run by cousins Danie and Hugo Carinus. Working across Swartland, Devon Valley and Polkadraai, the family farms distinctive sites including a 37-year-old, dry-farmed Malmesbury vineyard on red granite and a Polkadraai site known for minerality and low pH. The winery focuses on terroir-driven wines, including several Chenin Blancs, whole-bunch-fermented Syrah, old-oak-fermented Muscat de Frontignan and the collaborative Danchko Luka label, with input from Lukas van Loggerenberg. Its low-irrigation approach reflects a practical commitment to farming, although no organic, biodynamic or formal sustainability certifications are noted.