Rosé, "Pinotage Rosé" Safriel House, Coastal Region, ZA

Pinotage is the classic South African red grape varietal. A crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsault, both renowned Old World rosé varietals, which are brought together in the New World to create a modern and refreshing expression of rosé.

The Vineyard and the Wine
The vineyard is in the Simonsberg ward of Stellenbosch, the most coveted appellation. It is on a dramatic mountain slope warmed by the gentle Southern African sun and cooled by the nearby Atlantic Ocean breezes. This is prime vineyard real estate and usually destined for premium red wines but we want our rosé to be premium too!

In 2021, good rains in the winter months and moderate weather in spring and early summer meant that the vineyards were in perfect condition. We harvest early in morning to keep the grapes as fresh possible. We also harvest by hand, employing workers who live near the farm, not migrant workers. We use small 20lb boxes, not a giant bin so that grapes at the bottom are not crushed and mushy when arriving at the cellar door. Once at the cellar, we utilize a few selected yeast strains and ferment at cool temperatures to obtain a diverse aroma profile. To keep all the flavors, we perform a light filtration after fermentation.