Zwartwater Estate Red Blend Paardeberg 2024

Located on the granitic slopes of the Paardeberg in the Swartland, the vineyards are shaped by a central valley. The soils are made up of weathered granite, which is naturally low in nutrients and drains well. This terroir limits excessive vine growth and encourages deep roots, imbuing the wines with depth, balance, and clarity. Cooling coastal winds are funnelled through the valley, helping to regulate temperatures and reduce disease. The vineyards are mostly dry-farmed and bush-vine trained, with simple trellising if required, to suit the warm Swartland climate. This approach helps manage vine growth, protects the grapes from excessive sun, and allows them to ripen slowly and evenly. Farming follows a regenerative approach focused on improving soil health, with minimal intervention, cover crops being encouraged and biodiversity actively supported. Vineyard treatments are minimal and applied only when necessary. The grapes are manually harvested ensuring careful selection and optimal ripeness.

The grapes were cooled overnight to 2°C before being fermented as either whole cluster or lightly destemmed. Fermentation was intentionally slow and cool, in open-top fermenters or stainless-steel tanks. Each batch was pressed separately and transferred to concrete vats or oak barrels, both new and neutral, for malolactic conversion. Once completed, the wines were racked and blended. They continued to mature in their individual vessels for the remainder of the first year comprising 58% neutral oak, 22% concrete, 20% new oak The second year involved combining batches in a single concrete tank for an additional 12 months.