De Blaauwe Klip

This full-bodied wine will be an ideal partner to serious meat dishes.

Grapes of all 5 cultivars were harvested from 9 vineyard sites on Blaauwklippen located in the Stellenbosch Golden Triangle. The soil varies from medium-high potential Tukulu to poorer Klapmuts soil. A combination of narrow (1,8m x 1.0m) and wider blocks (2,3m x 1,4m) were established. The annual yield ranges from 5 to 7 tons per hectare.

The batches were matured separately for 16 months in French oak barrels – 13% first fill – and oak casks before blending and bottling.

The grapes were handpicked and transported to the cellar for processing. Cultivars were separately destemmed and fermented in a combination of French oak casks and stainless-steel tanks. Remontage twice a day ensured the delicate extraction of tannins, followed by 14 to 18 days skin contact after fermentation and before pressing the grapes. Malolactic fermentation followed in oak casks and 300-liter French oak barrels.

Down to earth with a rich history and winemaking tradition, Blaauwklippen produces wines of distinction in harmony with the simplicity of country living. Shaped by centuries, people are at the heart of Blaauwklippen’s legacy that is shared in abundance with contemporary design and artisanal flair. In 1977 the first Zinfandel vineyards to be planted in South Africa were established on Blaauwklippen with the first vintage released in 1980. This pioneering spirit led us to produce world-class Zinfandel for decades and today we remain one of only three Zinfandel producers in the country. Launched in 1984, the Blaauwklippen Blending Competition is the only one of its kind in South Africa, aimed at consumers rather than producers, inviting wine-lovers to try out the art of wine blending for themselves. Narina Cloete has been the winemaker at Blaauwklippen since June 2016. She graduated with an Honours BSc Agriculture (Oenology) cum laude from the University of Stellenbosch. She serves on various wine judging panels including the South African Young Wine Show, FNB Top 10 Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Vintners Classification, Blaauwklippen Blending Competition, Veritas Awards and the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show. She also judged in Spain at the 2018 Zarcillo International Wine Competition. The Blaauwklippen Family Market, held every Sunday, is a popular Winelands destination with an array of food, arts and crafts, live music, a monthly antiques fair and the estate’s child-friendly facilities and activities.