Crisp white for Savignon Blanc Day
Sauvignon blanc is one of South Africa’s most popular wine varietals, about 14 million litres being consumed domestically in 2020, with a similar volume exported.
Yesterday was World Sauvignon Blanc Day and, in celebration, all 13 of the Durbanville wine producers resumed their popular collaborative project that was interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Contributing wineries were Altydgedacht, Bloemendal, Canto, D’Aria, De Grendel, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Groot Phesantekraal, Klein Roosboom, Maastricht, Meerendal, Nitida and Signal Gun.
The cool two oceans-influenced climate of the Durbanville Wine Valley is seen as ideal for the slow and flavourful development of wine grapes, particularly sauvignon blanc.
Each cellar gets a turn to produce the wine, which this year will sell at about R110 a bottle. The 2022 vintage was blended by De Grendel cellarmaster Charles Hopkins and colleague Morgan Steyn.
The wine unveiled is regarded as an inaugural vintage, even though collaboration between the wineries started almost a decade ago.
“The first time we did this, each farm delivered a ton of grapes to Diemersdal,” recalled winemaker Thys Louw.
“This made for a great photo opportunity but was a logistical nightmare.”
This year’s project entailed producers supplying “finished” wines to De Grendel and Hopkins oversaw their blending into the final product.
The 2022 Durbanville Sauvignon Blanc is available at the tasting rooms of the Durbanville Wine Valley.
Connoisseurs can also buy it online at