Reserve Grenache

A true soulmate to Melanzana Parmigiana.

Despite the drought, the dry, warm weather resulted in healthy grapes and small berries with good intensity. Warm days and below average cool nights during the ripening stage gave the colour and flavour development a positive boost.

The wines age gracefully in place for 18 months in 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels, and receive only one racking during this period. After tasting through all the individual lots our Winemaking team decides on the final blend, the barrels are emptied into the tank farm and the wines are prepared for bottling.

The grapes were gently de-stemmed, retaining as many whole berries as possible after which a displacement pump takes the fruit to its fermentation tank. The tanks are then inoculated with a specific commercial yeast strain, this way insuring the development of the perfect flavour profile. Fermentation is done in stainless steel fermenters using the punch down technique two times a day to ensure optimal colour, tannin and flavour extraction. Once fermentation is complete the wine is drained off the skins and moved to a holding tank to be barrelled down. Malolactic fermentation takes place in the barrels.

Sutherland Vineyards is situated just 9 kms off the Atlantic Ocean with altitudes of 140 to 250 meters above sea level. The cool maritime climate allows for slower ripening than in other Cape Wineland areas producing wines with vibrant concentrated fruit flavours and an elegant minerality. All Sutherland wines are bottled and produced at the estate in Stellenbosch.