Villiera Blanc Fumé is back

Thursday, 2 March, 2017
Villera Wines
This time from a single old Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc Vineyard

Stellenbosch, South Africa:  From the 2016 Vintage we decided that our Bush Vine Sauvignon Blanc needed a greater point of difference from our more tropical trellised vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. We felt the time was right to bring back Blanc Fumé, with a twist.

Simon Grier (viticulturist): “This vineyard has the ability to produce a unique, intense style that we feel was worthy of its own platform. The bush vine system is a traditional training method especially suited to unirrigated vineyards. The limited yield ensures early ripening.

The grapes were handpicked and sorted. Picking occurred in the morning to take advantage of cooler conditions and to ensure that the fruit is protected from oxidation. Picking from bush vines requires a back breaking effort but it is worth it."

Jeff Grier (viniculturist): "I believe the intensity of fruit in this wine allows it to benefit from barrel treatment. The grapes were crushed and destalked and the juice was partially skin fermented in an egg shaped tank. Before dryness the juice was racked to barrels.

(50% new French oak/50% used barrels) to complete the fermentation. Malolactic was avoided to retain freshness and batonage occurred weekly. After 3 months the wine was removed from barrel and was stabilized before bottling.”

“Grown on old bush vine vineyards. Hatched from an egg. Matured in a Barrel.”

Watch the Jeff Grier Video: Story behind Villiera's Bush Vine Blanc Fumé.

TASTING NOTES: This approach resulted in a more structured wine that required longer bottle maturation before release. The green pepper, fig and slightly smoky character was nicely complemented by some oak spice. This wine should keep for up to 5 years and the new style typifies the terroir it grows in. This is an exciting departure from what we usually did and it embraces new trends in winemaking to ensure greater versatility with food.

Villiera is a family run, pioneering, innovative, quality wine company committed to preserving the environment.  The cellar is solar powered and there is an on-going greening project. Villiera is also committed to education and the upliftment of their staff and their families.

Learn more about Villiera Wines: www.villiera.com.




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Villiera Bush Vine Blanc Fume
Villiera Bush Vine Blanc Fume

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