According to Martin Moore, cellar master at Durbanville Hills, the award-winning winemaking team has spent the past few years perfecting a sparkling wine that has the ability to transform any moment into a memorable event. “We are extremely excited to introduce South Africans to the newest member of the Durbanville Hills family.”
The new sparkling wine boasts a vibrant and unique floral design, inspired by sunny South African summer days. “The bottle design is truly a work of art that we hope will take pride of place at any event, from an intimate dinner to a wedding reception.”
When asked about the winemaking process Moore explains that the grapes used for the sparkling wine are 100% Sauvignon Blanc and have been hand-harvested at between 22.5° – 23.5° Balling. Thereafter, the grapes are de-stemmed at the cellar and placed into 15-ton separators where the free-run juice is separated from the skins and left overnight to settle.
“The huice is then racked to the fermentation tank where it’s inoculated with a selected yeast strain and fermented at 15° C for between 14 - 21 days. After fermentation, the wine is racked from its primary lees, the sulphur dioxide is then added and left on the secondary lees for three to six months until bottling. Lastly, the wine is infused with carbon dioxide during bottling.
Flaunting a soft golden hue, Moore says that the wine presents guests with a fresh burst of flavour. “The CO2 in the wine elevates each layer of fresh tropical fruit, emphasising the greener spectrum brought in by the Sauvignon Blanc grapes and releasing aromas of kiwi and gooseberries. This freshness follows through to the palate with a slight hint of sweetness, balancing the liveliness of the acidity.”
He says that while the sparkling wine can be enjoyed on its own, but is also the perfect pairing for seafood dishes, including fresh oysters, smoked salmon, sushi as well as other raw fish dishes and salads, which will truly bring out the best in the wine.
Guests will have the first opportunity to experience the new sparkling wine at the Bubbles & Blanc festival taking place at Durbanville Hills 29 and 30 October 2016. The winery has created specially crafted cocktails for the day, including a Grapefruit Mojito and Blackberry & Thyme cocktail, both made with the new sparkling wine.
Following the festival, the Durbanville Hills Sparkling wine will be available from the cellar door, as well as online from the Vinoteque, and sells for R75.
The sparkling wine will be available at leading retailers nationwide, the Durbanville Hills cellar or via the online platform, www.vinoteque.co.za. Visit www.durbanvillehills.co.za for more information.