Olifantsberg Grenache Blanc 2018

Olifantsberg is passionate about producing authentic wines with a true sense of place, which reflect the unique location of their vineyard. The focus is on sustainable farming and winemaking practices, resulting in limited intervention in the both the vineyard and cellar. The team are fully committed to understanding their terroir and managing their natural resources through conservation, which adds to the singularity of their wines. The unique terroir with its combination of schist soils, constant winds and elevation, produce concentrated fruit that results in elegant, fresh and age-worthy wines.

The vineyards are located on the fertile slopes of the Olifantsberg Mountain Range where they endure large diurnal temperature differences and strong winds, at altitudes from 250 to 450 metres above sea level. During the winter the mountain peaks are snow covered, keeping the vines dormant for longer. Cold winters, coupled with the summer winds, ensure the slow ripening of the grapes, which helps to maintain healthy vines and contributes freshness and elegance to the wines. The soils in the vineyard comprise a shale, granite and slate, which lends structure to the resulting wine. The vineyards are farmed in a sustainable manner, helping to maintain the biodiversity within the vineyards and soils. The vines are trained “sur echalas”, a bush vine supported by a wooden vertical support; which helps to produce more concentrated fruit on the lower potential soils in these mountainous vineyard sites.

The grapes were whole bunch pressed to ensure an elegant extraction of colour, aromas and flavours. Natural fermentation took place in seasoned French oak barrels and large oak foudres which added layers of complexity. The wine was aged for 10 months on its fine lees, adding texture and richness.