As far as
can be determined, the De Bos Walker Bay 47 Varietal Rosé is the
only Fairtrade wine made from this number of grape varieties.
“The
De Bos Walker Bay 47 Varietal Rosé showcases our unique ‘vine to wine’ story,
in a single wine and reflects the work of Lelienfontein Vine Growers – the progressive
vine nursery,” explains Bosman Family Vineyards managing director Petrus Bosman.
The
Bosman family have been practising the art of grafting and growing quality
vines since 1888, initially for own use on their wine estate. Lelienfontein Vine
Growers was born when Petrus Bosman (Snr) sold his surplus vines for the first
time in 1947. Today, the plant material from which they supply the industry
comes from different locations – one being the De Bos farm in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.
Here,
part of the premier Walker
Bay wine growing region,
the nursery provides a library of 47 different grape varieties grown as a
single vineyard – all of which now appear in the new blend.
The
blend is led by Cinsaut, Carignan, Durif, Grenache Noir and Shiraz
varieties, and includes components of among others Roussanne, Meunier,
Tempranillo and Tinta Amarella.
The
result of sensitive and focused blending is a wine with a plush, peach-coloured
hue reminiscent of coral. On closer encounter, the wine reveal aromas of wild
strawberry and cranberry while on the palate the flavour of fruit lingers long
after the glass is returned to the table.
“One
important aspect of the De Bos Walker
Bay 47 Varietal Rosé is that it was made with the final wine in mind,” says
winemaker Corlea Fourie. “It is not a by-product of a red wine process. We
harvested grapes four times at pre-determined sugar and acidity levels, and the
Rosé was then made from those four selections.
“We
are particularly inspired by the Provincial style of wine and therefore prefer
our Rosé to be dry and fresh.”
The
multi-varietal Rosé has been made from many of these vines before, but never
with this number of cultivars. It was also previously bottled as part of the former
Bosman Family Selection range.
“This
is the first De Bos Walker Bay 47 Varietal Rosé – a project dedicated to tell
the story of this vineyard. It is a pure reflection of the cultivars and where
they come from. Walker
Bay provides us with a
beautiful freshness, minerality and almost fynbos-character in the wine,”
Corlea says. “The previous Rosé’s were very popular and we still get a steady
stream of enquiries about them.”
Corlea
says the harvest for the latest addition was a milder year in terms of
temperature. “We saw good fruit complexity at lower sugar levels. The wine
therefore developed a wonderfully natural low alcohol of 11%.”
Bosman
Family Vineyards and its Fairtrade label, De Bos Handpicked Vineyards, are both
committed to quality and innovation and these values are manifested in the
gentle hands-on approach of the winery. Grapes are handpicked and meticulously
hand sorted, resulting in wines that reflect their heritage.
De
Bos Walker Bay
47 Varietal Rosé will be available from selected leading retailers nationwide.
For more
information, visit www.deboswines.com, call 21 873 3170 or find
them on Facebook.
For press assistance contact Ian Manley of Manley
Communications on 0861 MANLEY (626 539), email to premierbrands@publicity.co.za or
visit the Press Room of Manley Communications at www.manleycommunications.co.za.