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

In 1918 in the wake of the Great Flu Epidemic an orphanage, Die Herberg, was built by the Robertson community for the children left orphaned and destitute. In 2003, a 5 hectare vineyard was planted on the orphanage’s grounds by the same community. All planting material, soil preparation and irrigation were donated. This blend is made for free by sympathetic cellars and sold in aid of the children, who today are no longer all orphans but mainly from broken homes. 100% of the grapes for this blend is grown on the orphanage’s grounds and 100% of the profit is donated to the children. Only true audited costs are remunerated, time and effort cannot be recompensed.

Winemaking

Soil with chalk and calcrete formations. Moderate summer with low night temperatures, cold winter. Cool South Easterly wind in the summer. Harvested at full seed ripeness. Cold macerated uncrushed in open fermenters for 10 days. Punched through twice daily. 3 Weeks alcoholic fermentation. Only free run used. 100% Malolactic fermentation spontaneously in barrel. 12 Months wood maturation. No filtration.This classical blend was created by using the ancient technique of fermenting uncrushed berries with native yeast from the grapes. After aging for one year in French barrels, it was bottled without finings or filtration. A further 12 months bottle aging took place prior to release.

Tasting notes

Full-bodied red wine that supports a charity project. Bright peony red with cherry red tears. Exuberant nose of black currants with blueberry and blackberry in front, black plum and smoked meat. Remarkable balanced taste with soft tannins and extremely wide mouth filling. Soft playful fruity long finish.Recommended serving temperature: 16°C

Pairing recommendation

Delicious with a barbecue or with roast of juicy red meat, spicy tomato salad, pasta with sweet peppers and with white mould cheeses.