Swartland’s Org de Rac Goes Premium with Two New Top-Tier Organic Wines

Wednesday, 29 November, 2017
Org de Rac
Org de Rac, the organic wine farm in the Swartland in the Piketberg region, has launched two wines under its new Die Waghuis label. A red and white blend, the wines refer to the 18th century guard-house (waghuis) that once stood at the foot of Piketberg to ensure the safety of travellers between Cape Town and the rugged north-western hinterland of the Cape.

The white Org de Rac Waghuis 2016 is a blend of Verdelho (37%), Chenin Blanc (37%) and Roussanne (26%), which besides garnering a 91pt score from Tim Atkin also won a Gold medal at this year’s Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards. Also made from Mediterranean varieties, Die Waghuis 2016 red wine is a blend of Shiraz (66%), Grenache (19%) Mourvèdre (12%) and Verdelho (3%).

Die Waghuis White 2016
Verdelho (37%), Chenin Blanc (37%), Roussanne (26%)
All three varieties grow on Org de Rag, on a south-facing slope. Soils comprise terra rossa, shale, and tukulu and the vineyards for these wines yield five tons per hectare. The grapes were picked at an average of 24° balling and fermentation was done in wood and stainless steel, before the wines was left on the lees for nine months for flavours to integrate and the wine to gain complexity.

The wine has a fresh, compacted presence on the palate which leads to flavours of white pear, flowers, honeycomb and nuts, with discernible notes of fynbos and sun-drenched veld.

Alcohol 13.3%

Res. sugar 1.7g/l

pH 3.15

Total acidity 6.4 g/l

 Die Waghuis Red 2016
Shiraz (66%), Grenache (19%) Mourvèdre (12%) and Verdelho (3%)
All vineyards are planted on south-facing slopes, with bush-vine Grenache at the top and the trellised Shiraz and Mourvèdre lower down. After harvesting all varieties except the later-ripening Mourvèdre were fermented together. Some fractions were whole-berry fermented and mixed with crushed fruit. Malolactic fermentation took place in 500l barrels with cherry-wood heads. The blend was aged in second-fill barrels for 14 months.

This red wine has a lovely juiciness, a riveting acidity bearing notes of red berries and sappy plums ending in a haunting line of spiciness and savoury.

Alcohol: 14%

Res. sugar 2.9 g/l

pH 3.53

Total acidity 6g/l

 According to Org de Rac cellarmaster Frank Meaker the quality of fruit the organic vineyards have delivered over the past few years necessitated the introduction of two top-tier Org de Rac wines to show what the property was capable of. “Lying to the Cape Town side of Piketberg mountain, Org de Rac is situated on one of the most unique terroir sites in the Cape,” he says.

“The farm lies in isolation, is 50km from the Atlantic and has soils ideally suited to growing a diverse range of wine grape varieties. And it is the quality of these soils and the search for perfection in its purest form that drove the decision to farm organically.

“This region of the Swartland is where generations have farmed with respect for nature and their unique geography - soil is everything,” says Meaker.

“The decision was thus taken to keep this precious soil in as pristine and natural a state as possible through organic farming, which is actually just ‘real’ agriculture. The soils are sustainably managed with a rotation of different cover crops, vetches and organic mulching to stimulate microbial activity. When it comes to managing the vines, a strict pruning regimen and diligent suckering programmes are employed to control any occurrence of pests and diseases. Also, we give the bunches optimal shading during the ripening season.

“With more-and-more wine regions - especially those in Europe - reverting to organic and natural farming, Org de Rac aims to lead the way in proving that the best wines are made from grapes produced under best practice farming conditions.”

The suggested retail price for both wines is R160.

subscribe to news
vineyards and mountains
vineyards and mountains

sunset at Org de Rac
sunset at Org de Rac

OrG Die Waghuis SGMV & VCR
OrG Die Waghuis SGMV & VCR

more news