Southern Slopes

Black pepper and poppy seed crusted venison loin.

Our Riebeeksrivier farm in the Swartland, located on the Malmesbury side of the Riebeek Kasteel Mountains, was where the grapes for this wine were cultivated. Our vines grow on the mountains’ western and southern slopes. The Southern Slopes, whose soil is a mix of clay and Malmesbury shale, served as the inspiration for this wine. The combination of slope and soil results in a full bodied blend that has a deeper and richer fruit profile. The region was able to finally recover from the difficult drought period thanks to the increased rains. There were favourable climatic conditions during the growing season, which resulted in an early harvest due to early flowering and fruit set. Excellent fruit with exceptional flavour was produced as a result of the mild ripening circumstances and healthy canopies.

For 16 to 18 months, the wine was matured in fourth- and fifth fill French oak barrels as well as stainless steel tanks.

All of the components and vineyard blocks used to create the Cape of Good Hope Southern Slopes blend are handpicked at their optimum ripeness and processed separately. The blend’s composition may vary slightly from year to year because no vintage is identical, and certain cultivars may perform better in certain years. The components undergo fermentation in a combination of stainless steel tanks and Italian cement tanks (Nico Velo) following sorting by the optic sorting machine. These various fermenting tanks add depth to the wine and highlight the unique characteristics of each block.

This is a range created in recognition of the Cape of Good Hope’s vinous heritage which stretches back more than 350 years when the first Governor of the Cape planted grapes. These unique wines are the result of irreplaceable parcels of old vines and site specific terroirs. The labels reflect the grape variety as well as the origin and singular characters behind them.