NEW CRISP AND LIVELY 2010 SIMONSIG SUNBIRD SAUVIGNON BLANC

Simonsig has captured the ‘less quantity, more quality’ spirit of the 2010 harvest with the release of the estate’s new Sauvignon blanc aptly named Sunbird for its lively, vibrant appeal.

“Smaller yields have made the 2010 harvest, my maiden run at Simonsig, particularly challenging. Sauvignon blanc was a standout variety in 2009 and we knew it would be hard to beat, but now that the proof is in the bottle we can say that the quality is equal or even better than last year,” shares winemaker Hannes Meyer who heads up the white wine team at Simonsig. 

Brimming with vivacious green tropical notes akin to the vivid malachite sunbird that is drawn to the Cape’s indigenous fynbos hills where superb Sauvignon blanc is grown, this delicious dry white radiates a fresh intensity and exceptional fruit layers.

The exceptional quality of the Simonsig Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2010 can be attributed to ideal cold winter and spring months with strong winds during the flowering season delivering smaller crops of exceptional quality and fruit concentration. The optimal long, slow ripening period produced fruit of high natural acidity and terrific green herbaceous flavours.

“We were delighted by the quality of the grapes we sourced from the cooler West Coast region with their intense typical cool climate flavours, minerality and flinty character. Combined with the quality of the Elgin and Simonsig grapes, our 2010 vintage is a stand out wine with a revitalising flavour spectrum ranging from green and grassy nuances to more sweeter, voluptuous tropical notes,” adds Hannes.

Hannes considers Sauvignon blanc essentially as a variety where the quality is determined by the actual terroir of the vineyard. The proximity of False Bay, creating cooler pockets in their elevated plantings, combined with fertile soil compositions, add distinct character to the wine. Simonsig’s vinification has evolved over the past decade to create a crisp and intense Sauvignon blanc which is evident in the 2010 vintage.

Elevating the profile of easy-drinking white wines, Simonsig Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2010 is set to rule the roost with its luminous, youthful green tinge and a combustion of tropical fruit temptations combined with sassy green pepper and hints of asparagus. The crisp acidic verve and dry mineral notes on the palate ensure a lingering fresh finish.

Recommended retail prices:

Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2010                      R54 per bottle.

Serving suggestions:

Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc 2010:                     Fine seafood, poultry and pasta dishes or chilled on its own. Fresh green asparagus spears pick up the Sauvignon flavours. It is also delicious with any fresh salad.

Green Appeal

Simonsig’s Sauvignon Blanc not only allures with a crisp, refreshing taste profile, it also carries the seal of green appeal on its bottle – the Cape sugarbird icon endorsing Simonsig’s Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI) and Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) compliance.

Simonsig’s meticulous conservation of environmentally sustainable wine production has earned the estate membership of the BWI, a partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector to preserve the natural habitat and promote sustainable wine production.

To qualify, members must have at least 2 hectares of natural or restored natural vegetation on their farms for conservation. At Simonsig 4% (12ha) of the estate is set aside exclusively for the conservation and rehabilitation of indigenous flora, including renosterveld and fynbos eco-systems. This forms part of the Greater Bottelary Conservancy which spans more than 1500 hectares around Simonsig Estate.

In addition Simonsig is fully compliant with IPW, which is part of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative (BWI), and embraces minimal interference in the vineyards, planting vines in ways to prevent erosion, reducing the amount of sulphur dioxide used in wine production, and setting aside a minimum of two hectares of land to preserve biodiversity.