Dogs have always formed an integral part of our family and none more so than Roc, our amazing Rottweiler. He was big, boisterous, a total clown, unquestionably loyal and above all the best ‘family friend’ we had ever had. Sadly he died at the age of seven from bone cancer. In honour of Roc I decided to dedicate this very special Cap Classique to him.
It is important to note that these wines are not commercially available but can only be purchased at the annual CWG Auction which takes place the first Saturday in October every year. You are able to register online – for more details see www.capewinemakersguild.com

Winemaking: 

Both the Chardonnay and the Pinot Noir were picked by hand and then gently whole bunch pressed. The Chardonnay juice was barrel fermented and aged in large old French oak barrels to enhance the creaminess and complexity of the wine and to add palate weight. The Pinot Noir was tank fermented in order to accentuate the bright berry characters. After blending the wine was bottle fermented and aged on the lees for 53 months. After degorging the wine was aged for a further six months on the cork.

Description: The Chardonnay imparts distinctive citrus and chalky characters while the Pinot Noir contributes strawberry nuances. Having spent 53 months on the lees results in a beautiful brioche and marzipan expression which is further enhanced by layers of vanilla from barrel aging. 

Food Pairing:

Salmon gravadlax on crisp rye toast

Parma ham and red figs

Strawberries macerated with black pepper

About Silverthorn Winery:

In 1976 Joachim Rieck, Karen’s father, was faced with a purchasing dilemma – buy a beautiful sea view property in Llandudno (now one of the most expensive areas in Cape Town, but at that time it had very little value) or buy Welmoed Farm, an 11 hectare property with some vineyards on the banks of the Breede River. Had he been financially driven, he might have predicted the increase in value of the Llandudno property, but he was led by a different kind of wisdom and heart – one which had learnt the value of a farm and the self-sufficiency that comes with it. Having grown up during World War II it was this gift he wished to give to his family. In 1992, when he presented the idea of handing over the family farm to his daughter, Karen, she was a young interior designer with no experience in farming. Nevertheless, Karen considered a career change and requested application forms for Viticulture and Oenology, the study of winemaking.

Only, it was John who found the empty forms lying on a table, had an epiphany and promptly filled them in, sent off his application and found himself coming out of Elsenburg 3 years later as Dux Student. Soon after, Karen’s father fell ill with an aggressive cancer and in 1999 John and Karen took full responsibility of the farm, which was at that stage running at a loss. For John as a young assistant winemaker at Graham Beck, and Karen who was expecting her second child while looking after her dying father and two-year old, the Silverthorn that exists today must have felt totally unreachable. And yet, the inklings of a dream were there. To build a cellar, to make wine and to keep the farm. This simple vision took them on a journey that would see John headhunted by Steenberg Vineyards for the position of cellar master with an offer to allow him to develop his own wine brand at the same time. For 17 years John worked at Steenberg, climbing the corporate ladder to eventually manage Steenberg Vineyards, Hotel and Restaurants before it became clear that in order to take the next steps with Silverthorn, he’d have to leave the certainty of the corporate world and enter the unchartered territory of following the dream. 

Now over two decades into the journey, Silverthorn Wines has truly established itself as a world-class Cap Classique brand and destination.