Alexander Vineyards, Cape Town Susara Sauvignon Blanc Semillon – 2024

A blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon sourced from the winery’s best vineyard blocks on mountain slopes looking over the Atlantic Ocean. This was fermented using wild yeasts then matured on its lees for 14 months in large old Austrian oak casks.

It is dry, quite full bodied and packed with ripe, exotic fruits, wild herb and green nettle flavours. There is a refreshing underlying acidity and bite of salty minerality on the finish from the ocean breezes. A really interesting, complex and flavour-packed white.

Pairs well with grilled seafood, herb-crusted fish and roast chicken.

250 cases were produced. Drink now – 2028

Alexander Vineyards is located in Noordhoek, around 35km south of Cape Town on the Cape Peninsula in the extreme southwest of South Africa. The vineyards lie less than 1km from the Atlantic Ocean, on steep, west-facing hillsides with a high carbon content in the soils, which makes them ideal for growing premium quality Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

The location of this winery is stunning, with magnificent ocean views. The hillside vineyards are interspersed with countless Samsara Protea, a beautiful, velvet-textured, salmon pink flower which is much prized in South Africa. The amazing Estate Manor House also acts as a discrete and luxurious wellness retreat, where guests can stay in the middle of the vineyards, where the mountains meet the sea.

The estate benefits from a distinct microclimate, influenced by strong south-easterly winds descending the mountain during the day and late afternoon, followed by cool coastal breezes in the evening.

This moderating effect helps maintain natural acidity and ensures optimal balance in the grapes, without excessive heat stress.

The quality of all the wines I tasted from this new estate was very impressive and the value for money fantastic. Look out for Alexander Vineyards in the future – I am sure they will be a name to watch!