Four new, small production wines have been added to Cape Classics portfolio under the “B Vintners” label. The new additions come courteous of the B Vitners Vine Exploration Co. that was launched by Bruwer Raats, winemaker at Raats Family Wines and the iconic brand, Indaba with his cousin, Gavin Bruwer. The Stellenbosch-based winemaking enterprise was created as a way to payy tribute to the long history of winemaking in the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Wines like B Vintners will allow the Cape Classics portfolio to keep up with the demand for SKUs and this one is perfect because it brings a low yield, minimal intervention style that clearly portrays the accomplishments of South African wine.
Raats and Bruwer explore unique vineyard parcels in high lying areas near the ocean to find the perfect grapes. Most of the vines are mature and grown on weathered soils of decomposed granite and the grapes are carefully selected and picked at the optimal moment for the best portrayal of the terroir. In order for each bottle to freely express its sense of place the wines are made with little to no intervention. The portfolio consists of two ranges: Heritage and Terroir Specific. In Heritage there’s the Haarlem to Hope, a mix of primarily Chenin Blanc and Semillon. The Terroir ones are Reservoir Road Pinot Noir, Black Bream Pinot Noir and Fire Heath Chardonnay. This portfolio under the “B Vintners” label will be available through the importer’s distribution partners as limited release items and with South African wine category growing in the U.S. it wouldn’t be a bad idea to grab a bottle or two and explore South Africa from the comforts of your home.
