Springfield Estate

Set in the heart of the mountain-ringed Robertson Valley in South Africa's Western Cape Province, Springfield Estate is a vibrant, family-run wine farm. It is owned by the Bruwer family, fourth-generation wine farmers and ninth-generation descendants of the Bruères, French Huguenots who came to South Africa from the Loire in 1688 with bundles of vines under their arms.

The lime-rich soil on the estate ranges from extremely rocky to clay, with sandy soil next to the Breede River where vineyards are protected against floods by low dikes. The climate in this area can be harsh and extreme. The southeaster blows the ocean air in from the Atlantic over 100 km away and this produces variable summer temperatures of around 30 ºC during the day to 15 ºC and below at night. The lower lying vines, such as those in the Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, are prone to frost during the growing period and a low annual rainfall of around 200 mm means that controlled irrigation is essential to relieve grape stress. These conditions are ideal for keeping alive natural yeasts present on the grapes, and to ensure an abundance of organic material in the vineyards.

from http://www.springfieldestate.com/

Springfield Vineyard

This is made in the ancient style of Burgundy. Wild yeast is used to ferment the wine and no fining or filtration is done. Rarely is this technique used in the New World. Tropical fruit nuances layered by lime and cream. A big wine with a very Burgundian style. [read on...]

£14.50

Named after the ravenous finches which, driven by their superior sense of smell and taste devour the grapes when fully ripe - a telltale sign that it is time to pick. A dry white sauvignon with pungent tropical fruit flavours, full of ripe richness [read on...]

£6.75

Finches will always choose to devour the ripest, juiciest and sweetest grapes. Springfield pickers follow these birds from vineyard to vineyard to pick the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Ruby Cabernet for this wine. Fruit driven nose is upfront and pronounced. The tannins firm but inviting. A must with pasta or chill for 15 minutes and enjoy with al fresco summer lunches. [read on...]

£6.90

To fulfill a yearning to create a top notch ``Bordeaux Blend`` Springfield planted the classic ingredients - Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot in 1992 (they already had Caberney Sauvignon) Nine years later they had matured to produce grapes with rich concentrated fruit. A further 18 months in French Oak an a further 18 months in bottle. Their dream to produce an exceptional wine came to fruition ``A Work of Time`` It is unfilted and unfined which may result in a small deposit so the bottle may need decanting [read on...]

£12.35

A slightly fuller style of Sauvignon from one of South Africa’s top producers. The palate displays a medium body, with lemon, gooseberry and fig, there is a delicious ripe acidity giving balance to the wine and nice length on the finish. [read on...]

£8.70

This wine is produced from 24 year old vines grown on sandy rock formatious in the estates riverine area. It is a richly concentrated wine from the estates prime Sauvignon Blanc site. Treated tenderly in the celler with minimal intervention the full expression of the terrior has been allowed to develope. The resultant wine is a complex sensuous combination of passionfruit and flintiness, with a full mouthfeel and stylish length. A superb wine from a magnificent estste - one of THE best in South Africa who produce thisnquality year after year, with Abrie Bruwer declaring that the 2009 is possibly his best vintage ever. [read on...]

£8.50

Harvested in the cool of the night, tank fermented with native "wild" yeast for 70 days, and 13 months on the lees (wild yeast sediment), has produced an unwooded chardonnay which abounds with flavours of pineapple and pear drops and nuances of litchi and stewed strawberries on the nose. A unique and utterly delicious wine. [read on...]

£10.90

Life from Stone is now established as a big selling firm favourite with our customers. This single vineyard originates from the rockiest soil on the Springfield Estate, with resultant struggling vines and huge concentration of fruit. Brilliant greenish in appearance, this is a dramatic wine full of ripe red peppers and passionfruit; developing flavours of minerals and flint in bottle with the added bonus of the 2009 vintage being the best ever. [read on...]

£8.50

Don't be deceived by such an inxepensive price: As Abri Bruwer put it "grown with dedication, made with passion!" with a delicious result. Green peppers, gooseberries and passionfruit flavours abound with a long crisp fruity farewell. [read on...]

£5.95

Finches will always choose to devour the ripest, juciest and sweetest grapes. Springfield pickers follow these birds from vineyard to vineyard to pick the Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Ruby Cabernet for this wine. Fruit driven nose is in front and pronounced. The tannins firm but inviting. A must with pasta or chill for 15 minutes and enjoy with al fresco summer lunches. [read on...]

£6.60