The 2024 Mason Road Chenin Blanc pours a pale straw color with glints of green. The nose opens with pear, quince, and yellow apple, layered with chamomile, citrus blossom, and a faint herbal lift reminiscent of fynbos—the wild flora of the Cape.

On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and beautifully balanced: crisp yet rounded, with flavors of white peach, Meyer lemon, and green melon. A gentle waxy texture—classic to Chenin—threads through the mid-palate, supported by bright acidity and a subtle mineral edge from the granitic soils. The finish hums with citrus zest, wet stone, and a touch of salinity, making each sip refreshing and quietly compelling.

About the Winery

Brookdale Estate is one of the rising stars of South Africa’s Paarl region—an estate where old-world inspiration meets Cape innovation. Once an overlooked farm at the foot of the Klein Drakenstein mountains, Brookdale has been revived as a biodiversity-rich, sustainably farmed property dedicated to crafting refined, expressive wines from both classic and unexpected varieties.

At the heart of Brookdale’s modern identity is its winemaker, Kiara Scott Farmer—one of the most dynamic young talents in the Cape today. A trailblazer in South African wine, she is among the country’s first Black female head winemakers and has earned widespread recognition for her thoughtful, terroir-driven style. Trained both locally and abroad, Kiara brings a cosmopolitan sensibility to the cellar, pairing technical precision with an intuitive feel for the vineyards. Her work has helped place Brookdale firmly on the map, with critics and competitions alike celebrating the estate’s textured Chenins and expressive blends.

The estate’s philosophy centers on giving each vineyard block a clear voice. Decomposed granite soils, varied slopes, and cooling mountain breezes create a mosaic of microterroirs, and Brookdale’s team works thoughtfully with this diversity—planting Chenin Blanc, Mediterranean varieties, and even rare field blends to reflect the depth and character of the Cape.

In the cellar, Kiara keeps the winemaking intentionally restrained. Fermentations are clean and temperature-controlled, the use of oak is judicious, and the focus is always balance, purity, and structure. The Mason Road range showcases Brookdale’s fresh, approachable side, while the estate’s old-vine and single-vineyard bottlings reveal serious depth and longevity.

Brookdale stands at an exciting intersection: heritage and renewal, sustainable farming and modern precision, ancestral land and a new generation of leadership. Each bottle—from their textured Chenins to their vibrant blends—carries the signature of a place where mountain, soil, and a visionary winemaker converge.