Location: Swartland – Paardeberg

Grapes: Alicante Bouschet, Agiorgitiko, Pontac, Bastardo do Castillo, Trincadera, Tinta Barocca, Lledoner Pelut, Grenache Noir, Pinotage, Cinsaut, Counoise & Carignan

Ageing: 12 months old foudre

Soils: Weathered Granite Formation

VINIFICATION | This co-planted vineyard is planted on the western slope of the Paardeberg. Due to its aspect, it soaks up most of the afternoon sun, hence the name Sonvang (Sun Catch).

On this slope, we are able to get the grapes to early maturity, especially on the earlier ripening varietals and, in most cases, with the initial fresh firm acidity. At this point, we are still having multiple picks, but in the future, with pruning dynamics and varied viticulture, we aim to have the entire spread as a singular pick and co-fermentation. We will get there, but for now, we need to get to know this vineyard.

The grapes are fermented with 30% whole clusters and 70% being destemmed, and the fermentation is left for about 25 – 30 days before being pressed in an old basket press.

AGEING | After pressing, the wine is transferred to concrete tanks and older foudres that do not impart wooden flavours. The wooden staves’ age and saturation also make for a very slow reaction between the wine and oxygen. After 11 months on the lees, the wine is racked to tank, and we add 65mg/Litre of sulphur and bottle the wine from the fine lees.

NOTES | The concept behind this wine is establishing a single vineyard site with futuristic grape varieties that will brace and stand in the future climate change. At the same time, the vineyard, with a myriad of dynamics and grape varieties, will enable us to produce a complex wine by virtue of its dynamics. It is very much a concept of “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” a quote attributed to Aristotle’s Metaphysics Book VIII.

This maiden 2024 Sonvang vintage displays Mediterranean rosemary and herbal aromas, tangled with bright red fruit. The wine is youthful and embryonic and hosts a slight perfect reduction that will carry it into the future. The powdery and firm tannins have class and elegance and are knotted and stitched together with the acidity to produce enormous length to the wine. This wine needs time, and we are delighted with this maiden release.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Yield 22 hl/ha

Alcohol 14 %

Residual Sugar 1,2 g/L

pH 3,49

Total Acidity 5,7 g/L

Total Sulphur 85 mg/L

Data Sheet:

https://thesadiefamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Sonvang-2024.pdf