Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Coastal Region, South Africa
Vintage: 2025
Bottle size: 75cl
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
ABV: 13.5%
Pale lemon yellow in hue. On the nose, intense aromas of fig, passion fruit, and grapefruit, with a hint of lime sorbet. The palate is rich with citrus and tropical fruit flavours, with a zesty acidity and a refreshing finish.
The grapes were harvested predominately from the Darling vineyard, situated approximately 300 metres above sea level on west-facing hills. Planted in 2001, this site is dry farmed and boasts soil comprised of decomposed granite, differentiating it from other vineyards in the Darling area. As a result, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown here are beautifully expressive.
The grapes were harvested in the early morning hours and whole-bunch pressed, with the juice allowed to settle for 48 hours before fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The fermentation conditions were managed to preserve tropical fruit flavours and acidity. The wine was left on its fine lees for three months to add complexity and texture before it was blended, stabilised, and bottled.
The Fairview estate is one of the oldest properties in South Africa, with vines planted as early as 1699. It is situated approximately 50 kilometres from Cape Town, on the lower slopes of Paarl Mountain. The property was bought by Charles Back’s grandfather in 1937 and was subsequently run by his father, Cyril, before Charles took charge. Under his guidance, Fairview have been driven by an ethical philosophy based on social commitment, sustainability, and conservation. The estate has a committee comprised of elected farm workers which ensures equal opportunities and invests in education and training for the workers. In addition, it funds a company which allows the farm workers to make their own wine, lending them the use of Fairview’s winemaking facilities. While all its production is now certified as Fairtrade, Charles doesn’t use the certification as he wants to sell his wines on their quality. The excitement engendered by Fairview was recognised in 2014 when Charles was given the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the International Wine Challenge.