The vineyards are located in the Robertson Valley. Here, the soil is flat and very chalky. This chalky soil gives the Sauvignon Blanc grape its beautiful mineral notes. The harvest for this Excelsior Sauvignon Blanc is carried out entirely by hand. This allows for extra-strict selection to ensure only the finest and best grapes are used for the wine. Harvesting also takes place in two phases. Some of the grapes (35%) are harvested early in the season, giving them a wonderful freshness. The other portion is allowed to ripen longer, developing more mild fruit notes. Only just before bottling are the grapes recombined, creating a perfect harmony in this wine.
Excelsior has a long history, dating back 150 years. In 1859, Jacobus de Wet decided to purchase land for his horse breeding farm. He was a master at breeding specialized racehorses. His eye fell on a barren plain in the Robertson Valley. For most of us, this wouldn't have been ideal, as pastures were needed for the horses. Jacobus felt differently. This was the place to be! The soil proved to be very fertile, and he also decided to start making wine. Years later, the fifth generation of the de Wet family still grows grapes here for the finest wines!
