Swartberg Wingerde - Sangiro 2017
Price: $84.96
| Producer | Swartberg Wingerde |
| Country | South Africa |
| Varietal | Other Red Grapes |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Sku | 600957 |
| Size | 750ml |
Perhaps no grape is more associated with its country than Pinotage is with South Africa. The grape itself is a genetic crossing of Cinsault (known in some parts of South Africa as Hermitage) and Pinot Noir. This wine hails from the rarely seen Olifants River area just east of St. Helena Bay. This area, is one that has yet to be exploited for fine wine being it is one of the world’s best locations for growing and making bulk white wines. Swartberg Wingerde is truly old school. They do not use herbicides or pesticides. They do not even plow and whatever cover crops grow are natural and include the famous Namaqua flowers. Look up a few pictures of when they bloom. The photos are incredible. The winery also lacks electricity and there is no phone on site. Winemaker, Rudiger Gretschel was smitten with vineyards and wineries by a trip to the Cape area with his parents in his youth. It was not to be his profession but during his ‘studies’ he took an introductory course almost on a lark it seems. Of course it paid off. Internships, winery jobs and many other mundane winery tasks led him to some assistant and head winemaking positions eventually with the god father of South African Biodynamics, Johan Reyneke who inspired his current hands-off approach. This wine was naturally barrel fermented and shows a concentrated profile of dark fruit and even cassis-like qualities. The named “Sangiro” is from the late author, film director and game warden AA Pienaar who wrote under the pseudonym Sangiro.
