Shiraz “The Beacon” Swartland 2017 – Fairview

The grapes to produce the Shiraz “The Beacon” Swartland Fairview were harvested fully ripe, brought to the cellar in small boxes, destemmed and hand sorted over a sorting table. All raisins, underripe berries and stalks were removed. The sorted berries were sent straight to open French oak fermenters. Manual punch downs were performed three times daily. Post fermentation maceration lasted for two days. The wine was basket pressed, and malolactic fermentation was completed in French oak of which 50% was new and 50% was second and third fill barrels. This vintage spent a total of 24 months in oak.

This dry farmed vineyard was planted in 1995, on a deep Glenrosa soil type that retains moisture well and allows the crop to ripen early, without stressing, during the region’s long hot summers. Planted on a north-westerly facing rocky outcrop, the vines are pruned to a “bosstok” or bush vine. Depending on the growth, the vine is pruned to between three and five buds per vine. Summer canopy management includes a topping, which will reduce wind damage, as well as green cropping at 80% veraison to ensure even ripening.

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.