Tim Hamilton Russell, founder of Hamilton Russell Winery, unlike most New World wineries, chose terroir. In the relatively cool Walker Bay region, three kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean, he wanted to cultivate varietals capable of producing excellent wines that also reflected their specific origins. He selected two grape varieties that he expected would yield top quality in the cool Walker Bay region. This is a stark contrast to the choices made by most other New World wineries. His Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have since become world-renowned.
In the nearby Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, son Anthony found ideal conditions for planting Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage. This beautiful vineyard is situated on a hilly 448-hectare estate. It is one of the southernmost wine estates in Africa, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. Because of its location, the grapes benefit from the cooling sea breezes. The Sauvignon Blanc is planted on the sandy foothills of Table Mountain. Here, the soil is lighter than the clay-rich areas where Southern Rights Pinotage thrives. He gave them their own label: Southern Right. The name refers to the eponymous whale that swims past Walker Bay between May and December.
The grapes are harvested from early February to early March. Heavy rainfall in November and cold weather in December affected the flowering of these grapes, resulting in a particularly low yield. The grapes were smaller and the bunches lighter, but this resulted in a deeper and full-bodied wine. And you can definitely taste that. Serve this delicious white wine with oysters, sushi, refined fish dishes, or goat cheese.
