Merlot

Serve slightly chilled (18°C) it is great summer red wine. Pair with charcuterie platters and gourmet flatbreads with pullet pork or steak strips.

Grapes were grown in 3 vineyard blocks on our farm. Medium potential Klapmuts soil, planted narrow at 1,8m x 1.0m and with Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) trellis systems. Clones MO182 and MO343 were used and both blocks are under drip irrigation. Annual yield is between 9 and 11 tons/ha.

Handpicked grapes were transported to the cellar for processing. Grapes fermented in stainless-steel tanks and twice daily pump-overs ensured the delicate extraction of tannins. The total time on the skins were 14 days before pressing. Malo-lactic fermentation and maturation followed in 300L French oak barrels (only 3rd fill and older) for 18months.

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.