APPEARANCE

ON THE VINE: Medium sized bunches with green berries. Crouchen Blanc is a vigorous grower, so canopy management is essential to controlling the quality of the fruit.

IN THE GLASS: Light straw with a green tinge.

SMELL

Grass, herbs, thatch, guava, geranium, honey and fruit cordial.

TASTE

Fruity, fresh, easy-drinking and well balanced if picked at optimal ripeness.

ORIGIN

The variety originated in the Western Pyrenees of France, but is no longer widely planted there because of its susceptibility to fungal diseases.

IN SOUTH AFRICA

Among the first varieties to arrive in the Cape a few centuries ago, Crouchen Blanc was mistaken for German Rhine or Weisser Riesling. When the real Riesling turned up, the mistake came to light but the Riesling tag stuck. Cape winemakers adopted the grape as its own, still calling it Riesling, Cape or South African Riesling (Nederburg labelled it Paarl Riesling), planting it in increasing quantities in the '70s and '80s. In the '90s the variety lost ground to more popular varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD

Crouchen is to be found in the Landes region in southwest France as well as the Barossa and Clare Valley in Australia. The Australians imported the variety from the Cape, confusing it for a long time with Semillon, which they called Riesling until the mid-1970s when it was identified as Crouchen.

AGEING POTENTIAL

Not more than 18 months.

MATCHING WITH FOOD

Light green salads and delicate seafood dishes.

SERVING TEMPERATURE

Between 8° and 14° C.