We are proud to introduce you to three new wines in our recently rebranded Pack range. Each wine in the series carries the name of an African wild dog (Painted Wolf) that has touched the hearts of conservationists working in the field.
First up is the second vintage of Lightning Sauvignon Blanc. Grapes were sourced from Vaalvlei and Stonefields Farms near Stanford, as well as La Vierge in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. A small Semillon component also came from La Vierge. The 2020 vintage of this wine won Gold at the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon, and the 2021 is certainly a worthy successor. Fermented in eggs, older oak and stainless steel, this is an elegant, sophisticated Sauvignon Blanc crafted in a Bordeaux style.
Lightning was one of the Kruger National Park’s most famous Painted Wolves. The alpha male of the Skukuza Pack, with his signature lightning flash on his left side he was easily identifiable and beloved by researchers and the public alike as the quintessential African wild dog.
Teardrop Viognier 2020 comes from a single mountainside block in the Breedekloof. From large, older barrels, this is a fresh and vibrant Viognier with peach and floral characteristics.
Teardrop is a female African wild dog who was part of a pack at Tswalu in the Kalahari. She strayed from her territory and was shot by an angry landowner. Though she suffered serious injury, her spirit was huge, and the veterinary team at the reserve managed to rehabilitate her over a six-month period. She was moved to Gorongosa in Mozambique, where Painted Wolves have been reintroduced after a 25-year absence.
The successor to our 2019 Black Pack Roussanne, Solo Roussanne 2020 comes from the slopes of the Voor Paardeberg. The grapes were picked slightly later than usual, resulting in a rich, fruit-forward wine with considerable ageing potential.
This wine is named for Solo of the Serengeti, the Painted Wolf pup who inspired Hugo van Lawick and Jane Goodall’s ground-breaking 1978 film and book about the species.
If you are in the area, pop into our den at The Simondium Guild for a taste. If not, we can deliver to your door in South Africa – you can order here.