Here we really have two new kids releasing their first wine under their own label. Mick Craven is an Aussie and Jeanine Faure is a South African – but not any South African – she’s from the original Faure farm, Vergenoegd, just outside Somerset West, which has been in the Faure family since 1820. After spending about seven years following harvests around the world, it was time to settle somewhere. Mick joined Adam Mason in the Mulderbosch cellar and Jeanine is in her second year of making wine at Dornier. They decided to focus on making wine from Stellenbosch for their own label –a refreshing change since most of the young, upcoming winemakers are veering towards Swartland, Hemel-en-Aarde and even Elgin. They feel that there is a lot of amazing fruit coming out of specific vineyards in Stellenbosch, and then there is the added benefit of making wine close to home – no long roads between vineyard and cellar for them.

As little interference, and as few additions as possible, is their motto, and from 2014 they’re also doing 100% whole bunch pressing. The aim is to make wines based around structure and acid which in the end leads to lower alcohol by nature. No yeast, enzymes, acid, or anything else for that matter, was added during the winemaking process, leaving the wine to really express fruit purity and a lovely fresh finish. You’re definitely not going to find this wine at your local supermarket, so best you visit your specialist wine store. Also keep an eye out in the future for other unique wines under this label, such as Pinot Gris, Clairette Blanche and a single Shiraz. PS: Note the splash of red on the label which highlights the specific vineyard where the grapes were sourced from – I love this little bit of detail.