False Bay Old School Syrah 2020

First discovered by sailors confusing it for Table Bay to the north, False Bay has long been a haven for those navigating the treacherous Cape of Good Hope. The cool coastal breeze which sweeps off the Indian Ocean tempers the ripening process in this area of the cape, extends the growing season and produces expressive wines with more precise varietal characters and purity. The False Bay range was developed by Paul Boutinot, an Englishman from Manchester who not only established a highly successful importing company but also then invested in an incredible 250 hectare wine estate in South Africa. He makes many cuvee at Waterkloof including the entry level False Bay range from fruit sourced from elsewhere in the region. The grapes for False Bay Old School Syrah stem primarily from two vineyards in Stellenbosch. The attraction to these coastal, vineyards were the cooler temperatures and low yields of small, naturally balanced and concentrated berries. Made by Waterkloof’s talented young Cellarmaster Nadia Barnard. Balanced grapes are hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with wild yeast (a small portion whole-bunch) and then raised in large wooden casks (or ‘foudre’ en Francais). No additions other than sulphur as a preservative. Grown, made and bottled in South Africa. Vegan friendly wine. False Bay – Real Wine – Coastal Vineyards, Sustainably Farmed, Hand Picked, Naturally Crafted, Wild Ferment, Cask Aged.

The Waterkloof estate was founded in 2004, ending Paul Boutinot’s (of the epynomous importing business based in Gatley, Manchester!) persistent and uncompromising 10 year search for a vineyard site with the potential to produce truly fine wine with a defining sense of origin.

Respect for nature, traditional wine making practices and minimal intervention are all key to their success. Named after South Africa’s most iconic bay, which frames much of the country’s premium wine lands, False Bay Vineyards was borne out of a desire to make ‘real’ wine affordable. The wines of False Bay are sourced from coastal vineyards that are cultivated using sustainable viticulture, often hand picked, and undergo natural fermentation, which is rare of wines at this price. This range is unbeatable for price/quality ratio.