Description

Grapes
Chenin Blanc / Steen (South African synonym),
Palomino / Vaalblaar (South African synonym)
VINIFICATION | After harvesting the grapes are placed in a cooling room to reduce
the temperature, since the average temperatures are often 35 degrees or more – and
pressing warm grapes comes with its own series of problems. We then do whole bunch
pressing, a process that takes about 3 hours during which time there is a margin of settling
of the juice in the collecting tank. The juice is then transferred to two old foudres for
fermentation.
The natural fermentation can sometimes take up to 5 days or more to start.
The fermentation may continue from 1 to 6 months and sometimes it only finishes in the
following spring, by which time the malolactic fermentation would often have come to
completion as well.
AGEING | The wine is left in cask on the fermentation lees for the entire first 12
months and we bottle from the lees. Only about 50ppm of sulphur is added 2 weeks prior
to bottling.
NOTES | Skerpioen (Scorpion) is a wine from a very unique location halfway between
Dwarskersbos and Elands Bay on the West Coast. One of the most amazing aspects of this
location is the fact that the soils are chalky (limestone). In addition to that it is one of the
coolest parts of the Swartland region, located a mere 2km from the Atlantic Ocean, but it
is also a very dry area with an average rainfall of around 300mm per year.
This location is home to some of the most intense south-easterly winds and the old
vines look almost abused after having been battered by winds and blowing sand for years
and years.
The 2024 Skerpioen displays peach and citrus flavours and a touch of tropical aspects,
migrating to the trademark salty brine characteristics associated with this vineyard. This
2024 vintage has a slightly lower acidity than usual, and the aromatics suggest it can be
enjoyed earlier. The Skerpioen is one of our white wines that are the first to be ready for
enjoyment in our range of whites.