2017 Swartberg Wingerde Sangiro

The Piekenierskloof gets its name from the Dutch soldiers known as the 'piqneniers' (piekenmen), who were sent to the 'Groote Clooff' during the Second Khoi-Dutch War in 1673 to protect convoys crossing this mountain pass. A rugged wilderness with naked rock formations. The gnarled bushvines of this region include Grenache noir vines that are said to have been planted on the Piekenierskloof plateau as early as the early 1700s. Legend has it that during his exile on the island of St Helena in the early 1800s, Napoleon Bonaparte drank a sweet wine that came from these Grenache noir vines. A unique terroir of dry farming at an elevation of 550-750 m above sea level and the cold, harsh sea influence of the west coast shape these individual wines.

The Swartberg Wingerde wines are made by Rudiger Gretschel, known as production director at Vinimark ao Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek) and the winemaker at Reyneke (Stellenbosch). Rudiger has now also made wine under his own label after almost 20 years of searching for the most suitable plots in Piekenierskloof.

Swartberg Wingerde, located on the slopes of the majestic Swartberg on the top of the Pierkenierskloof plateau, is a place where time has stood still. Rudi Gretschel buys the grapes for the flagship of this house from Dr. Hanekom. He works this country in a non-commercial and holistic way. He lives and works on this land without the comfort of electricity or telephone reception. The few hectares of rooibos, citrus orchards and vineyards that he cultivates form an integrated part of this natural growth habit, which covers a total of 1000ha.
He takes care of the only 3.4 ha of vines, mostly Pinotage, without herbicides or pesticides. He does not till the soil and allows the natural Namaqua flowers to grow between the vines as a cover crop in the winter.

The Sangiro is unique in its kind and is difficult to categorize. The grapes from this very old, authentic, organic "field vineyard" contain different varieties, but the main part is pinotage. The Sangiro is perfumed with a pure fruity plum undertone accompanied by oriental spices and cardamom seeds. In the mouth the wine is full bodied and firm. Layers of fruit add to the complexity and depth. The wine is balanced with elegant but very supple tannins. A gastronomic high-quality wine (think of a real 'roast' but then of refined top meat).

FACT: Only 1790 bottles were made of the Sangiro and each bottle is numbered (see our 360-degree image and zoom in on the front label where the vintage and bottle number are handwritten. The label shows Rudiger with Dr Hanekom who is alive the Sangiro spirit, just like the late author, film director and gamekeeper AA Pienaar who wrote under the pseudonym Sangiro which explains the name of this famous wine.