Simonsig The Grapesmith Meditteraneo 2019

In the vineyard

Roussanne ripens very rapidly and requires meticulous monitoring to ensure harvest is done at optimal ripeness. Grapes were harvested at 22.5° balling on 19 February 2019 and showed beautiful flavour, body and texture. Grapes were harvested from a vineyard located high up on the cool south-west facing slopes of Simonsberg, then cooled overnight in picking crates. The Grenache Blanc grapes spent 11 months in barrel on primary lees before blending took place. Verdelho Winemaking Picked on 7 February 2019 on 21.7 21.2° Balling and fermented in barrel. This Verdelho was made from the oldest planting in South Africa (1996), when Frans Malan decided to plant 7 rows on Simonsig Estate. Originally from the Island of Madeira it is known to make vibrant, tangy and refreshingly dry white wines with lively acidity. The Verdelho grapes were picked on 7 February 2019 on 21.7 21.2° Balling and fermented in barrel. This Verdelho was made from the oldest planting in South Africa (1996), when Frans Malan decided to plant 7 rows on Simonsig Estate. Originally from the Island of Madeira it is known to make vibrant, tangy and refreshingly dry white wines with lively acidity. The Marsanne grapes were harvested on 12 February 2019 at 22.6° balling from a cool site overlooking False Bay. The grapes were cooled down overnight to 5°Celsius. Grapes were whole bunch pressed early the next morning with the juice taken directly into 225 and 400 litre French oak barrels for a spontaneous fermentation, utilising the yeast strains naturally occurring on the berries.