Johan Jordaan wins Master Chenin Blanc Winemaker for the second consecutive year
Johan Jordaan, Cellar Master at Spier Wines.
Image: Supplied
In a celebration of craftsmanship and sustainability, Johan Jordaan, Cellar Master at Spier Wines, has been named the Master Chenin Blanc Winemaker for the second consecutive year at the Master Winemaker 100 awards ceremony held in Paris on 9 February 2026.
This recognition follows an impressive showing by Spier's Chenin Blanc wines at the 2025 Global Wine Masters competition. The Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2023 was awarded the prestigious Grand Master title, while the Spier Seaward Chenin Blanc 2024 clinched a Master Award, marking it as one of only three wines to achieve such an honour.
In response to the announcement, Jordaan expressed his delight. “We plan the wine from the soil to the glass, marrying terroir with the style of wine we intend to make,” he said. “Central to our winemaking philosophy is soil regeneration, nurturing living, resilient soils that support vine health over the long term rather than pursuing short-term yields. This approach aligns with Spier’s broader commitment to farming practices that restore ecosystems, encourage biodiversity, and allow vineyards to express their natural character.”
As a lifelong learner in the craft of winemaking, Jordaan emphasised that success comes from fostering wines of integrity shaped by their origin, patience, and a dedication to the soil. The Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc, in particular, is crafted from a certified Old Vine, embodying a legacy nurtured by devoted hands over decades. “Exceptional Chenin Blancs involve the effort of many people, and it’s for this very reason that this recognition belongs to our entire team. It’s truly a proud moment for all of us!” he said.
To maintain consistency and precision across vintages, Jordaan adopts a modular approach to winemaking, carefully managing single vineyards by dividing them into smaller lots. This method allows him to respond to subtle variations in soil, aspect, and weather conditions, ensuring each grape batch is handled according to its unique characteristics before being blended into the final product.
The grapes for the award-winning Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2023 were hand-picked from old vine single vineyards positioned in the hills of the Tygerberg near Cape Town, where the cooling Atlantic Ocean breezes create an ideal ripening environment. The 2023 vintage thrived in cooler, wetter conditions late in the season, leading to meticulous selection and multiple harvest passes to safeguard fruit quality and freshness. The outcome is a wine defined by refined elegance, marked by lively acidity and a fine texture while retaining depth and complexity.
The careful fermentation in a mix of tight-grain French oak barrels of varying sizes allowed for diverse levels of oak influence, and the final blend was matured for nearly a year in both new and second-fill oak barrels. This process contributed to the wine's profile, revealing aromatic notes of ripe pear, peach, litchi, and melon, harmonised with hints of citrus rind and white coriander spice. The palate is gracious yet balanced, underscoring a concentrated fruit core and offering a long, complex finish promising to reward careful cellaring.
In a similar vein, the Spier Seaward Chenin Blanc 2024 is crafted from dryland-farmed vineyards also nestled in the Tygerberg Hills, where the refreshing ocean breezes ensure optimal ripeness. This vintage surprises with luscious apricot, ripe peach, and fragrant notes of floral and honeydew, leading into a palate rich in ripe fruit and lingering lime freshness. Predominantly fermented in oak barrels and aged for six months, this wine speaks volumes of the terroir and the team's dedication.
With such remarkable achievements, Spier Wines, under Jordaan's expertise, continues to elevate South Africa's Chenin Blanc legacy on the global stage, celebrating both tradition and modernity in its winemaking practices.