Sauvignon Blanc

Try citrus cured white fish with a burnt orange gel. Grilled asparagus or zucchini, topped with chopped parsley, is a great match for our Sauvignon Blanc.

It’s been remarked before how the weather, during recent odd vintages, seems to behave to the benefit of local vintners. 2021 followed this pattern of 2019, 2017 and 2015. Yields varied significantly between cultivars and apart from a big rain event on 14 March, dry and cool conditions prevailed during picking. Phenolic ripeness outperformed sugar accumulation in the berries, resulting in juices with low potential alcohol and balanced natural acidities.

Following a long and cool fermentation of only the free-run portion, textural development is encouraged by a significant period of maturation on lees (sur lie).

A total of seven estate vineyards, planted on both clay shales and Table Mountain sandstone, contribute to this wine. Earlier pickings offer a fresh backbone to the blend, while those that’ve ripened further impart flavourful and mouth filling generosity. As soon as the grapes are delivered to the cellar, they are crushed, destemmed and lightly pressed.

One of South Africa’s most awarded boutique wine estates lies in a scenic valley just an hour and a half from Cape Town called Hemel-en-Aarde or Heaven-and-Earth. Framed by great fold mountains and breath-taking ocean views it is one of the coolest wine-making regions in the Cape with duplex soil structures and sun-facing slopes. The promise of the unique terroir is harnessed by winemaker Chris Albrecht in slow-ripened flavour-rich wines of exceptional quality. Bouchard Finlayson is globally acclaimed for producing the best Pinot Noir in South Africa as well as exceptional Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. The vineyards are surrounded by an indigenous floral conservancy alive with birdsong and wildflowers. Beyond the beauty of the farm itself you can discover the enchantments of the local area. Some of the popular attractions of nearby Hermanus include whale-watching; shark-cage diving; mountain hiking or biking; browsing art antiques and shops; and of course the white sandy beaches.