Saurwein Nom Pinot Noir 2023

Saurwein is Jessica Saurwein’s family surname. Steeped in the history of 17th-century winemaking, her forefathers made “sour” wine for the Emperor of Austria. It became her vocation to redeem her family’s reputation in wine and so after a gap year working locally and internationally in vineyards, she completed a BSc Oenology and Viticulture degree at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Today she focuses on handcrafting her two favourite cultivars, Pinot noir and Riesling, and makes three wines under the Saurwein brand name, two Pinot noir and one Riesling from four unique vineyard sites.

The Nom Pinot Noir comes from the Kaaimansgat Vineyard, Elandskloof Valley, Villiersdorp.  The vineyard, planted in 2008, is surrounded by tall mountains, making for a unique terroir ideal for the optimal ripening of this cultivar. The soil is shale origin with a significant portion of granite in the topsoil and clay throughout.

Nom stands for nombulelo (gratitude in “Xhosa”) and Nomkhubulwane (a forgotten African goddess of agriculture). Situated at 700m altitude, the vineyard is a place where gratitude is instilled and tales appear.