Delaire Graff Cabernet Franc Rose

South Africa’s wines are well known around the world. Cape Town, the capital, is surrounded by more than 20 wine regions. The most important three of those being: Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. Between these two areas, just over the Helshoogte pass, lies the Delaire Estate winery complex, with hotels, vineyards, wineries, restaurants, shops and beauty salons that have made this place, whose name means ‘from the sky’, one of the most exclusive and luxurious wine destinations in the world.

This idea must have been paradise for its owner, jeweller and billionaire Laurence Graff, who bought the estate in 2003. It was previously owned by John Platter, the famous wine critic. Leaving aside the luxury for a moment, it is worth saying that its reputation is not unfounded. Aided by the combination of marine and mountain influences, and with the work of Morné Vrey (oenologist) and Kallie Fernhout (viticulturist), the 20 hectares of vineyards grow on granitic and well-drained soils producing wines of great finesse and intensity. This is largely due to the very low rainfall. With 736 mm per year, the roots are forced to grow significantly, searching deep in the soil for the moisture they need to survive. This hard work from the plant results in strains with low yields, but very high quality, with very small berries where the aromas and flavours are much more intense. This intensity translates into very fresh and easy-drinking wines, like Delaire Graff Cabernet Franc Rose, a rosé made, as the name suggests, from Cabernet Franc, a variety that is not very widely grown, but that is changing.

The grapes are harvested by hand in the Hels Hoogte vineyards and Helderberg Mountain in the early hours of the morning. This is where the selection of the best bunches begins, which will be checked again in the winery. The whole bunches are placed into the press, where they are gently pressed. Once the must has been produced, Delaire Graff Cabernet Franc Rose ferments for three weeks in steel tanks, and once the process has finished, it stays there for a while on its lees. The wooden barrels come into play during the Delaire Graff Cabernet Franc Rose aging process, which lasts 10 months. 60% of the wine is placed in 400-litre French oak barrels, while the remaining 40% is placed in 2,500-litre foudres.