Set in the heart of the mountain-ringed Robertson Valley in the Western Cape of South Africa, Springfield Estate is a family-run wine farm owned by ninth-generation descendants of French Huguenots, who came to South Africa from the Loire in 1688 with bundles of vines under their arms. The farm has been in the family since 1898 and today, using a combination of sometimes risky winemaking techniques, traditional methods and modern technology, along with a sense of practicality and dogged determination borne from living off the land all their lives, the Bruwer family is able to handcraft wine true to its motto: Made on Honour.

About the wine

Life from Stone derives its name from the incredibly rocky soils in which it is grown. Every year the vineyard battles against nature in order to produce highly concentrated, powerful wines with a flinty, mineral character true to the quartz rock in which it is grown. Monumental human effort was required to plant the vines – implements destroyed, and, in the case of the older vineyards, dynamite deployed. A true expression of the site’s terroir, this wine will drink well now, or can be enjoyed in the next 2-3 years.

Winemaking

Moderate summer with low night temperatures, cold winter. Very gentle southerly slope, 6060 vines/ha row direction angled into the sunset. Extremely rocky soil – 70% quartz, 30% solubles. Harvested at night in February 2022 with dry ice protection. 21 days alcoholic fermentation and 100 days on primary lees. All racking done under CO2. Stabilised at -3ºC for 2-3 weeks. 80g/hl Bentonite fining. Not sterile filtration, only 2.5 micron filtration prior to bottling on the estate

Tasting notes

Unique naturally-made crisp white wine. Brilliant straw yellow with green yellow tears. Dusty nose full of minerality, exotic and native white berries. Delicious fine yeasty note and fresh herbs. Playful attack with lots of depth and character. Very lively yet aged acidity and contained low alcohol. Extremely long frisky finish.Recommended serving temperature: 10°C

Pairing recommendation

Delightful aperitif, it also goes well with raw marinated fatty fish, raw vegetables with cheese dip, with asparagus and fresh goat cheeses.