Portfolio Offerings SOUTH AFRICA History cooling ocean breezes, is ideal for South Africa boasts a 350+ year history quality wine production. The area is of winemaking. The French Huguenots dotted with breathtaking mountains and Dutch settlers brought vines from which create many diverse microcli- their homelands and established vine- mates. The soils are some of the oldest, yards to provide wine to the Dutch most complex, and most varied found East India Company merchant ships. in any winegrowing area of the world. 1659 marked the Cape’s first recorded Varietals vintage. After enduring years of control by the KWV cooperative, then strug- South Africa produces all the classic gling beneath global trade sanctions, global varietals, including Chenin South Africa began a new era of wine- Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, making following the fall of apartheid in Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, the early 1990s. The quality revolution Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc. that has swept the Cape wine industry The unique Pinotage varietal, a cross in the past two decades has been between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, was nothing short of astounding. Critics developed in the Cape in 1925 by and consumers around the globe have Abraham Perold, Stellenbosch’s first enthusiastically embraced the wines of professor of viticulture. Chenin Blanc South Africa, and demand continues to is the most widely planted grape in grow at record-setting pace. South Africa, and the only one with Geography, Climate, & Soils significant old vines plantings; Cabernet Located at the tip of the African Sauvignon is the most widely planted continent, the Cape winelands are red variety, but the gap is closing as nestledbetween the Atlantic and Syrah plantings continue to grow. Indian Oceans. The Cape’s mild Mediterranean climate, tempered by 2 SOUTH AFRICA Regions of Cape Town with pockets of vineyards Production zones in the Cape wine- spread throughout the foothills of the lands are divided into five officially Piketberg, Porterville, Riebeek and demarcated regions, which are subdi- Perdeberg mountains and along the vided into 21 districts and 64 smaller banks of the Berg River. Franschoek, wards. Stellenbosch, recognized as nestled in the Western Cape 47 miles the educational and research center from Cape Town, is one of the oldest of the winelands, is home to some of towns in South Africa originally settled South Africa’s most heralded estates. in 1688 by French Huguenot refugees. Breezes off False Bay help to moderate Due to its many highly rated restaurants temperatures in this very mountainous and the different varietals that are culti- region, located east of Cape Town. vated, it is considered by many to be While Stellenbosch produces excel- the “food and wine capital” of South lent examples of all of the “classic” Africa. Walker Bay is situated on the varietals, it is best known for its reds. southern coast of the Western Cape Constantia, located on the southern and receives a heavy maritime influence slopes of the Table Mountain range, which provides cooling breezes that just south of Cape Town, is some- allow grapes to enjoy a slow ripening times called South Africa’s “cradle process. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and of winemaking.” It was here that the Sauvignon Blanc are held in high regard Cape’s most important vineyards in this area. were planted in the late 1600s. The cool climate of this coastal region is Statistics ideal for white wine production, and South Africa is the Constantia is perhaps best known for world’s 7th largest its elegant, minerally Sauvignon Blancs. producer of wine, Swartland is an area that is gaining with total produc- acclaim, located about an hour north tion of 1,013 cape classics portfolio offerings 3 million liters. There are now 485 private aspects of production, including cellars, and 3,314 grape growers, with energy use, carbon emissions, waste- an estimated 99,463 hectares (245,778 water management, pest management, acres) under vines. White varietals noise and pollution, packing mate- constitute 55% of the plantings, led by rials and bottling facilities, health and Chenin Blanc (18% of total plantings), safety, and the protection of the Cape’s while Cabernet Sauvignon leads the unique biodiversity. Sustainable farming red plantings (11%). encompasses a range of agricultural practices that are not only ecologi- sustainability cally sound, but economically viable South African wines lead the world and socially responsible. All of Cape in environmental sustainability and Classics’ producers employ sustainable production integrity. The Integrated farming practices and are IPW certified. Production of Wines (IPW) scheme was While individual farms have the discre- introduced in South Africa in 1998, in tion to choose which practices work order to encourage sustainable, envi- best for their respective properties, our ronmentally friendly wine production. partner producers generally recycle, Administered by South Africa’s Wine & conserve energy and water and use Spirit Board, it is a voluntary monitoring renewable resources when possible. system that evaluates wine growing and To minimize the use of chemical prod- winemaking practices and their effects ucts, growers add nutrients to the soil on the environment. Participating through cover crops and compost, and wineries are graded on their adher- they control pests with native birds and ence to basic guidelines on various beneficial insects. Beginning with the 2010 vintage, producers who are IPW certified were given the option to use a new Wine and Spirit Board seal, high- lighting their commitment to environ- mentally sustainable wine production. A great advantage for South Africa and a This icon represents wineries world first, this Sustainable Wine South that are BWI members. 4 Africa (SWSA) for biodiversity, and reduce farming seal – illustrated practices that have negative impacts below – will on biodiversity, both in the vineyards provide a visual and in surrounding natural habitat. guarantee that Member wine farms are committed to the wine was implementing biodiversity guidelines produced in an by restoring and protecting the natural environmentally responsible manner. vegetation on their farms, adopting better farming practices and sustaining biodiversitY & healthy natural ecosystems. The impact wine initiative of the BWI on the vineyard growing (BWI) is a pioneering partnership areas of the Cape established an inter- between the South African wine national benchmark for conservation industry and the conservation sector and business partnerships. Together that aims to conserve the rich biodi- “member” and “champion” farms have versity of the Cape Floral Kingdom, the set aside more acres for protection smallest yet most diverse plant kingdom than the total vineyard footprint on earth, and home to 95% of South in the Cape winelands. Currently Africa’s wine production. This global DeMorgenzon and Kanonkop are biodiversity hotspot and official World BWI members while Bartinney and Heritage Site is under increasing threat Lourensford are champion BWI from agriculture, urban development, members. These farms are eligible and invasive alien species. Key goals to use the BWI “Conservation in of the BWI are to prevent further loss Action” seal on their wines, alerting of habitat in critical sites, increase the consumers to their commitment to total area set aside as natural habitat conservation efforts. in protected areas, promote changes in farming practices that enhance the suitability of vineyards as habitat cape classics portfolio offerings 5 B VINTNERS B Vintners was founded in 2013 by cousins Gavin Bruwer Slabbert and Bruwer Raats. Their Stellenbosch-based “vine exploration company” was created with a mission to celebrate two things: heritage and terroir. Using the building blocks of site, vine, heritage and future, the pair have combined youthful energy and sage experience to create an innovative approach to winemaking. Their goal is to keep things simple, nurturing the grapes from vine to bottle and allowing the wines to express their sense of place. Cousins Gavin Bruwer Slabbert and Bruwer Raats 6 B VINTNERS Haarlem to Hope SRP $26.99 Haarlem to Hope celebrates the rich vinous heritage of the Cape of Good Hope. Each of the varieties in the blend were brought to South Africa in the 1600s by early Dutch settlers, and they became corner- stones of wine production in the Cape. This beguiling white blend entices with luscious nectarine, pear and melon flavors, backed by alluring hints of lemongrass and ginger spice, seamlessly interwoven with exotic floral notes. The wine possesses tremendous fruit concentration, with bright acidity and a savory finish keeping it fresh and focused. cape classics portfolio offerings 7 Fire Heath Chardonnay SRP $32.99 This wine forms a part of B Vintners’ Terroir Specific range. Sourced from unique vineyard parcels discov- ered through Gavin’s and Bruwer’s explorations, these wines show a distinct sense of place. The Fire Heath Chardonnay is named for an indigenous fynbos plant found in the Walker Bay region. The wine is driven by a citrusy core of lime and tangerine, with loads of fresh acidity and a bright mineral back- bone. Luscious pear flavors and floral top notes round it out, with delicate almond and spice notes coming through on the finish. Reservoir Road Pinot Noir SRP $26.99 Reservoir Road Pinot Noir is part of B Vintners’ Terroir Specific range. Sourced from unique vineyard parcels discovered through Gavin’s and Bruwer’s explorations, these wines show a distinct sense of place. This vibrant Pinot Noir displays concentrated blackberry and dark cherry flavors, intertwined with delicate violet notes. Bright acidity lends a vibrant tension and freshness, while fragrant spice notes bring a savory depth to the wine. 8 Black Bream Pinot Noir SRP $32.99 Black Bream is an alternate name for South Africa’s national fish, the galjoen. They are normally found in shallow, inaccessible areas of the coastline with dangerous reefs and turbulent water, where the envi- ronment provides a natural safe haven.