Semillon Reserve

Slow-cooked pork belly or tuna belly grilled on vine stalks.

Winter 2022 saw average rainfall and plenty of cold days keeping the vines dormant. The growing season was characterised by above average temperatures and regular rains until December. January and February was hot and dry which allowed picking in near perfect conditions with cooler mornings allowing fruit to be harvested in an ideal way. The Semillon is from a mature vineyard located just behind the Monument and is sheltered from the south easter.

Wine was stirred on fine lees for 9 months prior to bottling on 8 November 2023.

A 25 year old patch of Franschhoek grown grapes within sight of Holden Manz produced a yield around 6 tonnes per hectare. Grapes were manually harvested early in the morning, refrigerated to 5C before undergoing whole bunch press. Following settling and racking 25% was naturally fermented in second fill barrels. The remainder was fermented at 14C in stainless steel tanks.

Holden Manz is a family owned wine producer located in the heart of the beautiful Franschhoek Valley. Established by owners Gerard Holden & Migo Manz in 2010 the estate grows cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and syrah and sources a selection of white varietals from specialist growers.