Franschhoek Sémillon

Following whole-bunch oxidative pressing, the juice was left to settle overnight before being racked into terracotta Amphora. There, both primary fermentation, occurring naturally, and malolactic fermentation were completed.

Our Leeu Passant Sémillon hails from an exceptional dry-farmed, old vine vineyard established in 1963. Its terroir is defined by predominantly alluvial sandstone soils, with pockets of granite found along the higher slopes of the Franschhoek Valley, an interplay that contributes to the wine’s vibrant, naturally high acidity. Encircled by three mountain ranges, the vineyard experiences later morning sunlight, yet the soils retain warmth throughout the day, enhancing the wine’s depth, texture, and overall complexity. The Sémillon grapes were hand-harvested on the cool morning of the 9th of March 2025 and yielded four tons per hectare, which translated to an average of 25 hectolitres per hectare.

The 2025 Sémillon was aged on its lees in terracotta Amphora for 12 months, after which it was racked, blended and further matured in the same Amphora until the final racking and bottling.