CAPE SOUTH COAST CHARDONNAY

Sushi and any other fresh sea-side inspired fare

Chilled, just like the vineyard it comes from

Just unpacking the name of the brand gives you a sense of how proprietors Martin & Welma Smith view the world. Atlas, the titan of perseverance, tasked with holding up the sky represents how very seriously they take their commitment to protecting the lands on which they grow their grapes. It also speaks to the maps on which the terroirs they work with are laid out. Swifts, one of the fastest and most aerial of the bird species, represents their nimble exploration to find said terroirs. The project, which on the surface, focuses on site-specific Chardonnays from distinctive places scattered across the Western Cape of South Africa, carries with it so much more than just beautiful wines of exceptional texture (Martin is the KING of texture! – Cami). It carries with it the dreams of some of the most authentic souls we have the pleasure to know.

Martin & Welma see Atlas Swift as an opportunity to raise their young children in an environment where work can be fuelled by passion, where the land and the importance of protecting it, is paramount. They are shaping the next generation to be conscious and responsible for the unique place they hold in the world.

You really can taste the ocean on this one! The vineyard, which is about 8km from the sea, has really high levels of sodium (salt) and potassium in the soil, which Welma believes is the secret to that minerally (think of rocks along the shore), salty character in the wine.

Place: Cape South Coast, South Africa
Grape: Chardonnay
Style: Saline yet sultry
Ingredients: Grapes + limited sulphur