As Refreshing As The Cool Atlantic Winds That Blow Across Fairview’s Darling Vineyard
Spring has sprung and summer is knocking on the door, bringing the promise of warm, sun-filled days, clear blue skies, long balmy evenings, fresh summer fare and zesty wines. Enter the Fairview Darling Sauvignon Blanc 2024, intensely aromatic, textured, zesty and fruity, and as refreshing as the cool Atlantic winds that blow across Fairview’s Darling vineyard. Delicious, exuberant and memorable – sip on some Darling sunshine this summer!
“The 2024 vintage is, without a doubt, one of our most expressive Sauvignon Blancs to date,“ says Charles Back, third-generation owner of Fairview. “It is a testament to Darling’s distinctive maritime climate and soil composition, the perfect terroir for producing Sauvignon Blancs with finesse, purity, vibrancy and a notable sense of place. This year we’ve tweaked the label to include a navy-blue band proudly displaying the Wine of Origin Darling tag.”
Anthony de Jager, Fairview’s Cellarmaster comments, “On the coastal hills of Darling, where the dusty roads wind through our vineyards, each row bearing witness to the passage of time, there exists a quiet poetry amidst the rugged landscape. Here, the Atlantic breeze whispers secrets to the vines, coaxing forth the richness of the earth in every cluster of grapes.”
In the vineyards
Anthony continues, “We’re privileged to be able to farm this small pocket of land on the upper slopes of the Darling Hills. From our vineyard, we have a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean in the near distance. Darling produces some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc fruit in the country, with its rich oakleaf soils, close proximity to the ocean, pronounced diurnal temperature differences and long growing seasons. Under these conditions, our grapes can reach optimal ripeness with complex flavours while retaining good acidity and fresh aromatics. Our vines dig deep into the red, decomposed granite that provides excellent moisture retention and drainage and contributes to the grapes’ natural saline taste and minerality. Dryland farming, meticulous viticultural techniques, careful block selection and pristine winemaking result in a Sauvignon Blanc with exceptional depth, flavour and character.”
In the cellar
Harvested early in the morning, the grapes arrive at the cellar before sunrise. Whole berries are gently pressed, and the juice settles for 48 hours before being transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Conditions are carefully controlled to enhance the tropical flavours of Sauvignon Blanc. After fermentation, the wine rests on its lees for 2 months, enhancing mouthfeel and aromatics, before final blending, stabilisation, and bottling.
In the glass
A star-bright straw hue with tinges of lime and green, Fairview’s 2024 Darling Sauvignon Blanc exceeds all expectations. Elegant, expressive, fruit-forward, and lively, it is the quintessential summer wine. Envisage intense aromas of figs, granadilla, lemon, lime and ruby grapefruit, and a palate brimming with vibrant tropical fruit notes, zesty acidity and a fresh saline minerality that lingers on the finish. A gorgeous Sauvignon Blanc that pays tribute to its Darling origin.
