Paul Cluver Estate Riesling

Paul Cluver Estate Riesling is a single-variety Riesling white wine produced by the Paul Cluver winery in the Western Cape South Coast denomination, South Africa.

Paul Cluver Estate Riesling is made with clusters that come mainly from plots aged around 30 years old where the soils have a top layer of surface sand and gravel masses on Bokkeveld shales and light clay, lying at an altitude of 300 metres above sea level.

The first grape selection happens in the vineyard and the harvest takes place at night to ensure that the clusters are fresh when they reach the winery. They then undergo a second selection process to eliminate any possible trace of rot. Before fermentation begins, the grapes macerate in contact with their skins and are then very gently pressed to begin fermentation with selected yeasts, 25% of the must undergoes this process in large 2500-litre oval oak tanks.

Fermentation is stopped in the tanks that usually contain wines with greater acidity. The batches of wine with lower levels of sugar are left with their fine lees, which will add more creaminess. The resulting wine from the final coupage is stabilised, prepared and bottled for release.

Paul Cluver Estate is a well-known, hundred-year-old family winery and a pioneer in the production of high quality wines in the Elgin Valley, which has the ideal climate for cultivating Riesling, a variety that is very well suited to the area and that Paul Cluver Estate knows how to get the best out of.