Warwick The First Lady's Tea Garden

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Well, how do we classify this fantastic drink? Is it a wine or a tea? Let's leave it open, because this is a special rosé infusion of Warwick with Pinotage Rosé and Rooibos Tea; light, spicy, and distinctly different from classic rosé, and with only 5% alcohol to boot.

Warwick Estate Winery

Warwick Estate is located in Stellenbosch and is one of South Africa's more well-known names. The estate was put on the international map by Norma Ratcliffe, to whom the series The First Lady is also dedicated. Within this series, Warwick explores not only classic wine styles but also wines and wine-related creations with a distinctive signature. The First Lady's Tea Garden demonstrates this well. It is a distinctly original product that fits within the house's idiosyncratic and modern style. More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

Warwick is based in Stellenbosch, one of South Africa's most famous wine regions. The region combines warm, sunny days with cooling influences from the sea, allowing grapes to ripen without completely losing their freshness. That interplay between ripe fruit and liveliness is a key characteristic of many wines from the region.

For The First Lady's Tea Garden, style is of paramount importance. This is not a traditional still rosé, but a product that combines the fruitiness of rosé with the spicy, earthy, and typically South African character of rooibos. In doing so, it aligns well with the identity of Stellenbosch and with Warwick itself, where origin and distinctive signature often go hand in hand.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The base of this wine consists of Pinotage Rosé. Pinotage is South Africa's best-known red grape and produces a light, fresh, and fruit-driven rosé style here. The unique aspect lies in the combination with rooibos tea. According to the official product information, The First Lady's Tea Garden consists of 50% Pinotage Rosé and 50% Rooibos Tea.

That combination makes this wine difficult to place in a standard category. The fruity and juicy character of rosé remains present, but is given an extra layer of spiciness, soft bitterness, and a slightly earthy touch. This creates a profile that clearly differs from a classic Provence rosé or an ordinary fruity summer rosé.

Harvest, vinification and aging

Warwick positions The First Lady's Tea Garden not as an oak-aged or heavily structured wine, but rather as a fresh, accessible, and distinctive creation. The emphasis, therefore, lies not on aging or extraction, but on directness, balance, and the interplay of rosé fruit and tea influences.

The result is a light style in which the wine aspect remains recognizable, but in which the rooibos plays a clear role in aroma and taste. It is precisely this combination that makes the product distinctive. It is not a gimmick, but deliberately structured differently from a conventional rosé.

Color, smell and taste

In the glass, The First Lady's Tea Garden displays a light pink color. The aroma is aromatic and different from standard rosé, with red fruit, floral nuances, and a spicy, slightly earthy undertone of rooibos. This immediately gives it a recognizable South African accent.

On the palate, the style is light and smooth, with fresh fruitiness as a base. At the same time, the rooibos provides extra layers. You taste not only red fruit and a soft rosé structure, but also something spicy and mildly savory that adds tension. As a result, the wine is not only refreshing but also remarkably unique in character.

The finish is lightly spicy and clean, with a style that focuses more on originality and drinkability than on power. Anyone expecting a classic rosé will find something distinctly different in the glass here.

Development and drinking window

This wine is meant to be drunk young. Its character revolves around freshness, immediate fruit, and the striking combination with rooibos. Long-term aging is therefore less appropriate than with structured white or red wines.

The charm of The First Lady's Tea Garden lies precisely in its youthful expression. In that phase, fruit, spiciness, and lightness come together best.

Wine & Food and Discount

If available, you will find the official factsheet and additional information about this fine wine in the 'Attachments' tab. We will automatically send these to you upon ordering this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you come to collect the wine, you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you select 'Pick up' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht, situated almost next to the A16 with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the ideal wine for your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grandcruwijnen customers. In the Food tab, you will find advice on what to look for for the right food and wine pairing, and a number of dish suggestions from our Sommelier.