Bruwer Raats of Raats Family Wines and the iconic South African brand has joined forces with his cousin, Gavin Bruwer, to launch B Vintners Vine Exploration Co. Based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, this winemaking enterprise will add four new, small production wines will be added to the Cape Classics portfolio under the “B Vintners” beginning Sept. 1.
These wines will be available through the importer’s distribution partners as limited-release items.
“As we watch the incredible growth of the South African category in the U.S. — a 25% increase in value in the last 12 months — we are adding more SKUs to our range to keep up with the demand,” says Rob Bradshaw, President and COO of Cape Classics, in a press release. “Wines like B Vintners allow us to bring low-yield, minimal intervention styles that serve as a unique example of what South African wines can accomplish.”
The portfolio is composed of two ranges: Heritage and Terroir Specific.
The following two heritage wines were produced from grape varieties with historical significance in the South African winemaking industry:
Haarlem to Hope 2015, SRP $26.99 per 750-ml. bottle. Chenin Blanc, Semillon and a dash of Muscat d’Alexandrie. The brand name alludes to the historic trade route that brought Dutch settlers from the port of Haarlem in the Netherlands to the newly established vineyards at the Cape of Good Hope.
Reservoir Road Pinot Noir 2014, $26.99 SRP. The Reservoir Road vineyard is positioned near a winding road leading to a reservoir. It is a low yielding bush-vine (non-trellised) vineyard, the company says, planted on a windswept hillside of weathered granite and ‘coffee stone’ soils.
The following two Terroir Specific wines were produced from grapes planted on unique vineyard parcels that “best express the terroir,” the company says:
Black Bream Pinot Noir 2015, $32.99 SRP. The Black Bream vines are grown at an altitude of 1150 feet in limestone-rich calcareous soils, a terroir in a cool climate valley near Walker Bay.
Fire Heath Chardonnay 2015, $32.99 SRP. The vineyards of Fire Heath are protected by a hidden valley. The costal influences of nearby Walker Bay contribute fresh acidity and a mineral backbone to the wine.
