Gabriëlskloof winery is in the Bot River ward, part of the greater Walker Bay region. Our winemaking philosophy is one of minimal intervention, only taking action where necessary. We believe this is the only way to give prominence to and reflect our terroir.  

About 

The Syrah is part of the Gabriëlskloof range of wines, together with our Rosebud, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and The Blend. This range offers a selection of boutique-style wines that always overdeliver on quality and value. 

Climate & Viticulture 

The 2022 harvest benefitted from good winter rains and full dams, which set the tone for a cool, even growing season. 

Vinification

Following careful hand-picking, a portion of the bunches were destemmed and transferred to fermentation tanks using a gravity system, allowing for whole berry fermentation, while the rest went in as whole bunch. Naturally fermented and aged in older French barrique for nine months. 

Tasting note 

A broody, tightly wound vintage showing classic notes of violets and earth as well as sour cherries and a spiciness from rainbow pepper and nutmeg. There is a vegetal, leafy earthiness to the palate as well as graphite-like acidity to hold up that dense core of fruit.

Technical Analysis 

Alcohol 14.34% volume 

Residual sugar 2.2 g/l 

Total acid 5.6 g/l 

pH 3.55  

About Gabrielskloof 's Winery:

Gabriëlskloof is the realisation of a dream for South African Bernhard Heyns, who searched for several years to find the unique piece of land that, in his words, would “root him to the spot”. In 2001 he found what was then a canola farm named ‘Avontuur’ and the penny dropped. It was soon obvious that the site had the potential to make high-quality wines with a distinctive character, and so it has proved. Gabrielskloof has been owned and run by the Heyns family ever since. That family has since grown to include members of the local community, several of whom have risen through the ranks to senior positions at the farm.

 Engaging with and being a part of uplifting our local community is the driving force behind our employment approach and the farm has both been part of and initiated several local upliftment programs in the vicinity. The arrival of Peter-Allan Finlayson as cellar master in 2014 has ushered in a new and exciting era for the farm, notably with the Landscape Series and Projects Range, wines from which have routinely featured in critic’s choice awards in recent years.