WeeklySA_AdminTerrior: TWith its generous dark-fruit character, peppery lift and lingering touch of chocolate, Zandvliet Shiraz 2024 offers wine lovers a deliciously versatile way to toast Seven Days of Shiraz…
By Len Maseko
Seven Days of Shiraz – from August 21 to 27 – offers South African wine lovers an invitation to rediscover a cultivar that has become one of the Cape’s most compelling vinous calling cards. Few bottles answer that invitation as confidently as Zandvliet Shiraz 2024.
Produced entirely from grapes harvested from 20-year-old Shiraz vines, the wine reflects the distinctive terroir of Zandvliet Wine Estate, situated on the outskirts of the Robertson Wine Valley.
The estate straddles the Cogmans River and is embraced from the north by the imposing Langeberg Mountains, which recede towards the south-east. Across its southern reaches lies a low range of limestone hills that lends a particular character to Zandvliet’s renowned kalkveld, or calcareous-earth, terroir.
Robertson’s limestone-rich red clay and weathered shale soils, moderate summers and cool nights help the grapes develop ripeness without sacrificing balance. The south-easterly winds originating around Cape Agulhas, about 130km away, provide an additional cooling influence during summer.
The result is an environment exceptionally well suited to Shiraz — a grape variety with which the Zandvliet name has become virtually synonymous.
Shiraz heritage
Zandvliet’s association with Shiraz stretches back to its first plantings in the 1870s. It was also among the earliest South African wineries to bottle the cultivar, helping to establish its reputation as a Shiraz pioneer in the Robertson Wine Valley.
Some of the estate’s magic lies in its soils, some in its cellar and much of it in the hands of a passionate winemaking team committed to combining time-honoured tradition with contemporary expertise.
In the glass, the 2024 vintage displays a deep ruby-red colour that immediately hints at its richness. The nose is ripe and layered, opening with generous aromas of plums and blackcurrants before revealing the pepper and mixed spices so closely associated with well-made Shiraz.
These flavours flow effortlessly onto the palate, where the wine is seamless, supple and satisfyingly complex. Dark fruit remains at its core, complemented by a subtle suggestion of dark chocolate that adds depth without overwhelming the wine’s freshness or savoury character.
“Expressive yet beautifully composed, Zandvliet Shiraz 2024 brings together ripe dark fruit, peppery spice and a seductive touch of chocolate.”
The restrained winemaking allows the fruit and terroir to remain firmly in focus. Fermentation took place at between 22°C and 26°C, with pump-overs used to extract colour, flavour and structure.
Following malolactic fermentation in the tank, the wine was matured for 15 months in seasoned 4,000-litre French oak foudres.
The choice of these large, seasoned vessels is significant. Rather than imposing conspicuous oak flavours, the foudres gently soften and integrate the wine’s components. They contribute texture and complexity while allowing the plum, blackcurrant and pepper notes to retain centre stage.
With an alcohol content of 14.04%, Zandvliet Shiraz 2024 possesses enough weight to accompany hearty winter dishes while remaining polished, supple and approachable.
The cellar master’s emphatic recommendation is boeuf bourguignon — and it is easy to understand why. The wine’s ripe fruit, peppery spice and dark-chocolate undertones should pair beautifully with the dish’s slow-cooked beef, mushrooms and deeply savoury sauce.
It should prove equally comfortable alongside roast lamb, peppered steak, braised oxtail or a rich mushroom casserole. Its combination of fruit, spice and structure also makes it an inviting fireside wine in its own right. Zandvliet Shiraz 2024 captures much of what makes South African Shiraz so rewarding: expressive fruit, warming spice, supple structure and considerable food-friendly versatility.
Behind the wine
Winemaker Jacques Cilliers has played an important role in reinforcing Zandvliet’s standing as a producer of premium, award-winning Shiraz. His stewardship combines respect for the estate’s long viticultural heritage with a measured contemporary approach in the cellar.
A new chapter in the Zandvliet story began in October 2019, when Van Loveren Family Vineyards acquired the historic wine brand from ANB Investments, which subsequently concentrated its resources on its core citrus-farming operations.
The acquisition brought the flagship Kalkveld Shiraz, Zandvliet Estate Shiraz, Hill of Enon Small Berry Pick range, Zandvliet Muscat and My Best Friend range into the Van Loveren portfolio. Cilliers and the Zandvliet cellar team also became part of the Van Loveren operation, preserving valuable winemaking knowledge and continuity behind the brand.
At the time of the acquisition, Van Loveren Family Vineyards managing director Phillip Retief described Zandvliet as an important pioneer of Shiraz in the Robertson Wine Valley.
“Van Loveren has a high regard for Zandvliet and what it stands for, especially as the acknowledged pioneer of Shiraz within the Robertson Wine Valley,” Retief said.
That heritage remains evident in the 2024 vintage. Whether poured at a relaxed winter dinner or shared during a special celebration, Zandvliet Shiraz 2024 is a fitting bottle with which to raise a glass during Seven Days of Shiraz.
