For more than a week now, wildfires have raged through the Franschhoek Valley, a place as spellbinding as it is vulnerable. With the Chamonix Manor House and offices tragically lost, and fires still out of control, old vine vineyards, historic farm structures and livelihoods remain under very real threat.
At this stage, the full extent of the damage cannot yet be measured, and won’t be until the fires are finally contained. What we do know is that Franschhoek has always lived with a certain volatility: fire, flood, drought and renewal woven into the fabric of the valley. And through it all, its wines continue to speak, of place, of resilience, and of the people who farm it.
While we watch and wait, one small but meaningful way to support the valley is to buy local. Below, we’ve highlighted six exceptional Franschhoek wines currently included in our Unlikely Dry January Sale, bottles that capture the character of this remarkable region, and help keep its producers moving forward during an incredibly difficult moment.
Drink thoughtfully. Support deliberately. Stand with Franschhoek.
Buy Local
Standout Franschhoek Wines
The 2023 Vigne d’Or Sauvignon Blanc is a classic expression of this varietal from Franschhoek. It presents a vibrant light green hue and an aromatic nose of lime cordial and freshly mown hay. The palate offers a perfect balance of ripe tropical fruits, with a lively acidity and creamy texture from nine months of maturation on lees. Ideal pairings include shellfish, seafood, goat cheese, vegetables, and charcuterie, making it a versatile wine for a variety of dishes.
94 Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“Always electrically intense and bright, this is another benchmark expression of exceptional Cabernet Franc, with its pristine aromatics of purple flowers, violets, rock candy and sweet lily. In the modern world, this is an undoubtedly taut, tight expression of Cabernet Franc with the palate breadth and depth, expansive and profound, showing complex smoky cranberry and red cherry nuances. This incredibly mineral, ethereal expression is simple class, strutting its shoulders and plumping its chest while acknowledging the finer, fresher aspects of the wine. This is undoubtedly the finest expression of Lokaia Cabernet Franc to date and from first taste, and you know you are in for a profound taste adventure when you approach the 2022. Drink now and over the next 8 to 10 years.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
93 Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“Another high-flying category in South Africa along with Semillon, Chardonnay also happens to be a cultivar that performs exceptionally well in the Franschhoek Valley and the grapes for this impressive 2022 Sandman Chardonnay are sourced from the vineyards of white wine focused Môreson winery where Lokaia co-owner Clayton Reabow is head winemaker. The previous vintages of this wine have been likened to drinking premium Premier Cru Chablis Chardonnay and this fabulous 2022 follows a similar stylistic aesthetic boasting a nutty, white citrus fruit laden aromatics with intricate nuances of dried herbs, wet chalk, waxy lemon peel, salted pistachios, melted honey and subtle salty oyster shell and granitic mineral spice layers over leesy savoury notes. On the palate, the acidity is fresh and pronounced, becoming another key foundation block of the harmoniously taut, classically structured, liquid mineral finish. Yet again, this is an incredibly striking expression of Chardonnay that will certainly delight the purists. Drink on release and over the next 3 to 5+ years.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
Camissa means ‘sweet water for all’ in Kora, the Khoe language of the Cape. This refers to the river that runs from Table Mountain, under the city of Cape Town and into the Atlantic Ocean. This is a wine that is only produced every few years and its blend changes each time. The 2021 vintage is made up of only Franschhoek-grown fruit; 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Petit Verdot – matured in 30% new French oak barriques for 24 months.
This 100% barrel-fermented Chardonnay was made using natural yeast and aged for 11 months in French oak. The wine has a bright, lemony green color and a lively nose with mineral overtones, followed by aromas of stone fruit, roasted almonds, and a hint of lemon meringue. On the palate, it offers a refined creaminess from lees contact, balanced by elegant citrus and white blossom flavours, complemented by minerality, subtle salinity, and complex acidity. The result is a smooth, lingering finish with impressive length.
The 2021 Paserene Bright Chardonnay from Franschhoek is a vibrant wine with a bright green/gold color and aromas of citrus blossom, neroli, and yellow peaches. There are also savory, sea-spray, chalk-like notes complemented by subtle oak influence. The wine offers a soft mouthfeel balanced by crisp acidity, giving it great length. Crafted with patience, the Chardonnay is fermented separately in seasoned oak barrels and left unfiltered to ensure its authenticity. Drink now or within five years.
