Delaire Graff Shiraz

Delaire Graff Shiraz comes from the peaks of the Helshoogte Mountains, in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa.

This red wine is made by the Delaire Estatewinery. Although just calling this a winery would be an understatement. Delaire State is one of the largest wine resorts in the world, with hotels, restaurants, beauty salons, shops, and wineries. All of this, overflowing with luxury and exclusivity, was the brainchild of one man: Laurence Graff, English jeweller and multimillionaire, who bought the 20 hectares of vineyards in 2003. Among all the new facilities, they are still making wines, which are thought to be the most expensive in the country. Oenologist Morné Vrey, and vinegrower Kallie Fernhout have been working side by side for more than 10 years.

The vineyards grow here at a certain height, which was once used by the French Protestant Huguenots to spot ships approaching Cape Town. The climate in these valleys, which are known as ‘The Cape Winelands’, is Mediterranean, with hot summers, cold winters and clear, sunny skies.

Delaire Graff Shiraz is one of the wines made here. Delaire Graff Shiraz is a red wine made from Syrah grapes, one of the first varieties planted in South Africa and derived from other varieties from Lambrusco in the French Delphinate, and which were brought to this country by settlers in the 17th century. These grapes are harvested by hand at dawn, to protect all the aromas and qualities of the berry. After a brief crushing and maceration (where the must is in contact with the skins), Delaire Graff Shiraz ferments slowly and at low temperatures, in order to extract all the varietal aromas. Once the wine has been devatted and separated, Delaire Graff Shiraz ages for 12 months in old French oak barrels.