The Navigator

Pair it with herb-crusted lamb, peppered beef fillet, or grilled venison to complement its spice and savoury notes. It also shines alongside earthy mushroom dishes or a simple board of aged cheeses and charcuterie.

The winter of 2022 was quite normal. Spring was good for us with less rain and wind in October and November. This created optimal conditions during the flowering season, the result, a decent harvest of 3.8 ton/ha on these 20-year-old vines. Rain in December created high risk conditions for downy mildew and with all the follow up rain in February we had our hands full to keep infection under control. Our Grenache grapes loved the cool break in February, as this extended hangtime and grapes could reach full phenolic ripeness. We could pick the Grenache grapes at optimal ripeness to the end of March.

After 21 days of skin contact, the wine was pressed and matured for 20 months in 300L French oak barrels, 30% new and the rest 2nd and 3rd fill.

The grapes were harvested over 10 days, starting with a small batch of Shiraz, Grenache, and Viognier co-fermented in an open-top fermenter with daily punch-downs. Mourvèdre and more Shiraz were fermented in stainless steel with daily pumpovers.

Strandveld Vineyards lies between Elim and Cape Agulhas, just 9km from the sea, shaped by strong winds, cool temperatures, and a maritime climate. Its unique terroir of coastal conditions and diverse soils gives the wines their distinctive character. Inspired by early explorers, the vineyards were established in 2001 by pioneers drawn to this rugged, promising landscape.