Cool Climate Garden Route Wines launch new vintages and website

Garden Route Wines, a small range of premium, cool-climate wines, are made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the Upper Langkloof area on the foothills of the Outeniqua mountains (600 meters above sea level) and Shiraz grapes from the foothills of the Kammanassie mountains (520m above sea level).

Launched in 2011, under the watchful eye of well-known wine producer, Cape Wine Master and co-owner of De Krans Wines, Boets Nel, wine enthusiasts can look forward to enjoying the new release vintages of these two varietals. Before going about producing these wines for the first time, Boets spent a considerable amount of time studying the possibility of producing premium wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz grapes grown in these cool climate areas of the Upper Langkloof and the foothills of the Kammanassie Mountains, where these varieties really excel. He firmly believes that especially the Sauvignon Blanc needs the influence of the ocean and height above sea level for the grapes to ripen slowly in order to produce these superb quality wines.

De Krans Wines winemaker Christoff de Wet, who also produces these wines at the De Krans cellar, describes the Garden Route Sauvignon Blanc 2023 as a complex wine with tropical fruit and grassy flavours, supported by a beautiful earthy minerality, typical of its cool climate origin. This perfect summer wine retails for approximately R100 per bottle and is available from the De Krans Wine Cellar in Calitzdorp, where the grapes are vinified. Enjoy on its own, chilled, or serve with roasted white meat dishes or fresh seafood dishes. The wine received noteworthy recognition last year when Christoff was a finalist nominated for the Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year, for the Sauvignon Blanc category, specifically the Garden Route Sauvignon Blanc 2022.

The Garden Route Shiraz 2020 is a multi-layered wine with ripe, dense fruit flavours and in perfect balance with the creamy, rich vanilla-oak.

The perfect partner to any roasted or smoked red meat dishes such as game, lamb or venison, the wine retails for approximately R130 per bottle and is available from De Krans Wine Cellar.

For more information on these wines or to order from the farm, visit the newly launched Garden Route website https://gardenroute-wines.co.za/.