Capitoline Wolf Rosè

A wonderfully versatile and gastronomic rosé, this wine pairs perfectly with salmon roses and a side of salty edamame beans. Its savoury notes also make it an excellent match for charcuterie, roast vegetables, and lightly spiced Asian-inspired dishes.

The fruit for this rosé comes predominantly from old bushvine Cinsault grown on the slopes of Breedekloof, tended by Kowie Stofberg, complemented by a small portion of Grenache from the Citrusdal Mountains. The deep alluvial soils of Breedekloof encourage healthy, deep-rooted vines, while the region’s pronounced diurnal temperature variation — warm days for ripeness, cool nights for balance — imparts complexity and freshness to the grapes. The Cinsault is picked early to retain its vibrant, spicy character.

Once the wine was dry it was stirred on the gross lees for 9 months without sulphur. Just before bottling it was racked, blended with the Semillon, sulphured up and protein stabilised. The wine was gently filtered before bottling.

The grapes were chilled overnight before being whole-bunch pressed to stainless steel the next morning. After gentle overnight settling, the juice was racked into large, neutral French oak barrels where it underwent spontaneous fermentation. The wine remained on its gross lees for six months with regular stirring and no sulphur additions during élevage. Before bottling, it was racked, sulphured, protein-stabilised, and gently filtered to achieve clarity and polish.

McFarlane Wines was born while sharing dreams and desires one evening over dinner, sometime in 2018. A dream to have something family-owned and operated, and a deep desire to honour some of South Africa’s heritage varieties. South Africa’s vinous history is a unique one, and certain varieties have had a significant influence in shaping where the South African wine industry is today. McFarlane Wines aims to produce fine, honest wines from these varieties and share what we love about them with the world.