in the vineyard : Background
Nine leading vineyard owners in the Durbanville district joined forces with Distell to create Durbanville Hills with the aim of promoting the regional individuality of this prime winegrowing area. The striking Durbanville Hills cellar sits on the side of a series of rolling hills with magnificent views of Table Mountain and Table Bay - the very geography that lies at the heart of what makes the wines so unique. The Durbanville ward is officially considered one of the Cape's two coolest wine regions, thanks to the sea breezes that drift inland from False Bay and Table Bay and the late afternoon mists that bathe the slopes. These conditions are ideal for the slow ripening of the grapes, allowing them to develop their full-flavoured, intense character. Grapes are sourced only from the shareholder-growers, all of whom farm within the limited appellation of Durbanville. Meticulous crop control limits yields and promotes concentration of varietal flavour. Cellarmaster Martin Moore uses highly advanced cellar technology to ensure optimal extraction of colour and flavour.
Sustainable practices include maintaining the disciplines imposed by International Environmental Standard ISO 140001 such as in the treatment of waste water back to irrigation quality. In all its vineyards the growing practices prescribed by IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) are followed. These are designed to sustain natural resources. In addition, the members protect on their farms 330 ha of endangered Renosterveld as part of the Biodiversity Wine Initiative (BWI).
The Vineyards - vineyard consultant: Henk van Graan
The grapes were sourced from seven of the nine Durbanville Hills member farms and three of them have high altitude vineyards growing on the south-eastern slopes of the Hooge Bergs Valley. Cooled by mists and the southeaster, the lower than average temperatures make for slow ripening and intense flavour retention. Some grapes from low-lying, south-western facing vineyards on Maastricht, Bloemendal, Klein Roosboom and Oatlands were used to enhance the full-bodied character. The winter preceding the 2012 vintage was fairly mild followed by a cool November and December. The crucial flavour-producing ripening period for Sauvignon Blanc grapes was cool, producing the high levels of crisp grassy/peppery flavours. The grapes were thus very healthy and ripened some two weeks later than normal. The Sauvignon Blanc varietal character of the grapes, especially from the higher slopes, was very strong producing wines with an abundance of tropical fruit characteristics. Some warmer spells ensured fuller blending components with lower acidity to produce an easy drinking style.