Cape Ruby Port

This versatile port pairs well with a variety of dishes. It is excellent when served with rich chocolate desserts, blue-veined cheeses, or simply as a warming drink on a cold evening. It can also be enjoyed chilled over crushed ice or as part of a cocktail for a refreshing summer option.

The grapes are sourced from vineyards that are around 30 years old, planted on shallow Karoo sandy and clay soils. These vines are trellised and micro-irrigated, which helps to maintain consistent quality and concentration of flavors. The grapes are typically harvested mid to late February at optimal ripeness to ensure rich fruit flavors and natural sweetness.

The De Krans Cape Ruby Port 2022 is matured in old oak barrels for about a year, which helps to soften the tannins and enhance the wine's complexity without overwhelming the fruit flavors. The use of older barrels ensures that the oak influence remains subtle, highlighting the primary fruit and spice characteristics of the wine.

After harvesting, the grapes are destemmed, crushed, and left to ferment in open tanks. Fermentation is halted by fortification with un-matured brandy spirit, which preserves the wine's natural sweetness. The wine is then aged in large oak barrels (300 liters), allowing the different vintages to be blended for added complexity and richness before bottling.

De Krans Wine Cellar is situated along the upper reaches of the picturesque Gamka River Valley in Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo. The rich and long history of the farm dates to 1890, when it was bought by the Nel family. The current cellar was built in 1964 by Chris Nel and his brother Danie. The first Portuguese grape variety in Calitzdorp was planted in 1973 at De Krans by a twist of fate. Chris Nel, father of Boets & Stroebel Nel, intended to plant Shiraz, which turned out to be Tinta Barocca, when the newly planted vineyard started bearing grapes in 1976! Since 1985 other classic Portuguese varieties, such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela and Souzão, have been planted. De Krans is widely known as one of the leading producers of port-style wines, as well as one of the most innovative cellars in South Africa. De Krans was the first in South Africa to produce a Touriga Nacional as a dry red wine, made the first Pink Port-style wine, as well as the first Moscato perlé wine in South Africa. De Krans has recently been awarded for its innovation, winning the Most Innovative Wine Award for the De Krans Espresso, as well as for the De Krans MCC at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards.