Sauvignon Blanc Darling 2023 – Fairview

The grapes to produce the Sauvignon Blanc Darling Fairview were machine harvested from very early in the morning, arriving at the cellar before sunrise. Whole berries were put into the press, after which the juice settled for 48 hours and was fermented in stainless-steel tanks. The wine was left on its fine lees after fermentation, prior to blending and bottling.

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are sourced from unirrigated vineyards in Darling. The vines are trellised and planted on deep red oakleaf soils.

Fairview is situated on the lower slopes of Mount Paarl, which is more sheltered from the moderating maritime influence than nearby Stellenbosch. Vines were planted here as early as 1699. The property was bought by the grandfather of current owner Charles Back in 1937. Fairview has a reputation for consistent quality across a range of innovative styles, using both classic and unusual varieties, and leads the field in South Africa in matching varieties to specific sites. The Fairview estate now has a total of 680 hectares of vineyard over four appellations: Paarl (350 hectares), Swartland (155 hectares), Darling (140 hectares) and Stellenbosch (35 hectares). This vineyard ownership in so many different regions allows Charles to produce a wide range of wines, from grapes grown in optimal conditions. In 2014, Charles received a lifetime achievement award from the International Wine Challenge.