Testalonga, a notable name in South Africa’s New Wave wine movement, is the brainchild of Craig and Carla Hawkins. Established in 2015, their venture focuses on experimental wines crafted from rescued grapes, often sourced from old vineyards. They were pioneers of the Swartland Revolution community, inaugurating their vineyard project in a picturesque locale at the Bandits Kloof farm on the northern outskirts of Swartland, near the Olifantsberg mountain.
Recently, they launched their first release from the vines they planted in 2018: an organic Grenache Blanc. This wine originates from head-pruned, high-bush vines grown in decomposed sandstone and shale at an elevation of 380 meters. The winemaking process involved whole bunch pressing into two old 400L French barrels, where it underwent malolactic fermentation for an entire year. The wine was left on its lees for 21 months before being racked just prior to bottling, and it was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The resulting wine exhibits a waxy sheen that complements its flavor profile, which includes crystalline quince, verbena, meadow grass, elderflower, and bright notes of lemon pith and peel. The finish is stony and saline, underscored by ample tangy acidity and youthful vibrancy in this light (11.11%) white wine. It reveals its complexity and depth when allowed time to breathe in the glass.
The wine has been rated 92/100, showcasing the expertise and innovative approach that Testalonga brings to the South African wine landscape.