Western Slopes

Black pepper and poppy seed crusted venison loin.

This wine was produced from grapes from our Riebeeksrivier farm in the Swartland, which is situated on the slopes of the Kasteelberg Mountains on the Malmesbury side. Our best red cultivar vineyards are found on the Southern and Western slopes of these mountains. This wine is made exclusively from the vineyards situated on the Western slopes. Lower yields and smaller bunches where visible in the vineyards because of the prolonged drought experienced in the Western Cape. Despite these challenging conditions, the quality of the 2018 vintage shows great promise. Advantageously the drier weather ensured healthy vines with little or no pests and disease.

Ageing was done in 4th and 5th fill French oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, before being bottling and released.

Grapes were harvested from blocks planted on the Western-facing slopes of the farm. All grapes were handpicked and transported to the cellar in the early morning. The grapes were sorted by an optic sorting machine and fermented in a combination of Nico Velo cement tanks and stainless steel tanks. Using different fermentation vessels ensures that each block’s unique characteristics are captured and emphasized. Blends and cultivar percentages will differ each year, seeing that no vintage is ever the same.

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.