Franco Lourens grew up among the vines in Paarl, South Africa. After graduating from the University of Stellenbosch, he worked with the emblematic Chris Alheit, at the head of a family domain that made the country’s wines famous. Over the years, he fell in love with the wealth and diversity of terroirs, climates and grapes in the Western Cape. That was when he decided to establish his own business, his own wines reflecting this plurality of flavours and locations, spanning all the landscapes he encountered, from mountains to plains through rivers. Franco Lourens, who works mainly with old vines, has become the king of blending, producing rich, concentrated, perfectly balanced wines that are in great demand throughout the country. Today, he holds a rightful place among South Africa’s leading wine producers.

This wine is a subtle blend of carefully selected grape varieties, including 50% Chenin Blanc, 42% Verdelho, 5% Grenache Blanc and 3% Grenache Gris. The vines, aged between 16 and 37 years growing on granite and iron-rich soils, have their home in the legendary Paardeberg, Stellenbosch and Voor-Paardeberg terroirs. Each parcel of vines is cultivated with care, following sustainable viticulture practices that respect the environment. In the cellar, the different grape varieties are vinified separately. For instance, only the Grenache Blanc variety remains in contact with its skins for five days. The Grenache Gris are fermented in clay pots, while the other grape varieties ferment in 500-litre barrels. The final step is to age the wine for 10 months before bottling.
The golden colour reveals an expressive nose of pears, nectarines and notes of citrus. The delicious mouthfeel leads to a delightful persistent finish.