2021 Swartberg Wingerde Sangiro

The Piekenierskloof takes its name from the Dutch soldiers known as the ‘piqneniers’ (pikemen) 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 18th century. Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte drank a sweet wine made from these Grenache noir vines during his exile on the island of St Helena in the early 19th century. A unique terroir of dry farming at an altitude of 550-750m above sea level and the cold, harsh maritime influence of the west coast shape these individual wines.

The Swartberg Wingerde wines are made by Rudiger Gretschel, known as production director at Vinimark (including 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, situated on the slopes of the majestic Swartberg on 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 cultivates this land 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 method, which totals 1000ha.
He tends to the mere 3.4 hectares of vines, mostly Pinotage, without herbicides or pesticides. He does not till the soil and lets the natural Namaqua flowers grow between the vines as a cover crop in the winter.

The Sangiro is unique in its kind and is difficult to put in a box. 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 contribute to the complexity and depth. The wine is in balance 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 of Sangiro were made 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 lives the Sangiro spirit, as did the late author, film director and gamekeeper AA Pienaar who wrote under the pseudonym Sangiro which explains the name of this famous wine.