Semillon

Serve chilled with fresh seafood, poultry, summer salads, as well as rich and creamy soups and pasta dishes.

Carefully laid out on a convergent outcrop of Table Mountain sandstone, Tukulu and Bokkeveld shale, Highlands Road’s vineyards are predominantly south and west facing to maximally embrace the cool climate growing opportunities presented by our unique terroir. From West to East the farm slopes gently up from the bottom dam alongside the eponymous Highlands Road, while the south side falls towards the Valley Road. Strategically positioned dams take advantage of the natural drainage and ample rainfall to provide a precious store while beautifying the area and providing for leisure activities. With all the vines having been clonally selected for the terroir, Chardonnay and Semillon are planted at the lowest part with Sauvignon Blanc, our biggest planting, on four different sites ranging from the lowest to the highest point across all the soil types – wonderful for complexity!

The owner of Highlands Road, Michael White, often jokes, when asked how it was that a Port Elizabeth attorney got to develop a wine estate from a run-down apple farm in cool climate Elgin, that it was a hobby that somehow got completely out of control. Having acquired the 26ha fruit farm in 2004, transformation commenced virtually immediately with vines being planted and then a production and barrel cellar, tasting room, and casual café with decks alongside the main dam being built in 2006 in time for the 2007 maiden vintage. In keeping with its philosophy of making top-end wine at realistic prices, Highlands Road Wines now produces a premium quality range of different Sauvignon Blancs, Semillon, a White Bordeaux-style blend, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah – all embracing the elegant, cool climate, fresh, fruit and minerality driven character so typical of Elgin, the coolest wine region in South Africa.