False Bay Vineyards
An independent company, owned by Waterkloof founder Paul Boutinot, False Bay Vineyards aims to make 'real' wine affordable. These are sustainable certified wines bottled in South Africa and naturally crafted from mature and often old vineyards that, crucially, are naturally in balance. This means that, unusually at the price, the grapes from these coastal gems can be transformed into wine with wild yeast and an absolute minimum of intervention.
False Bay Vineyards is proud to be a WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Biodiversity Champion and certified by WIETA (Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association). All of their wines are Vegan friendly. False Bay - Real Wine.
Named after South Africa’s most iconic bay, which frames much of the country’s premium winelands, False Bay Vineyards was borne out of a desire to make ‘real’ wine affordable.
Back in 1994, long before founding Waterkloof – his regenerative vineyard overlooking False Bay- Paul Boutinot came to the Western Cape to seek out and rescue grapes from old, balanced and under-appreciated vineyards. These treasures were otherwise destined to be lost in the large co-operative blends that were dominating South Africa’s wine industry back then.
Unusually for that time, Paul transformed those Cape gems into wines with a minimum of intervention: Wild yeast ferments, no acid additions…you know the drill. A familiar story to many ‘real wine’ lovers now, but back then he was swimming against the tide. Even today, making wine this way at the price-level is almost unheard of.
Today the ingredients remain the same for Waterkloof’s Cellar Master Nadia Barnard: Fantastic coastal fruit, old vines and wild yeast abound, with additions avoided.
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- False Bay Chenin Blanc, Waterkloof Estate
- Western Cape, South Africa
- False Bay Vineyards
- (1 x 75cl)
- £9.25
- 2023
Bready aromas and dried herbaceous notes, including fennel and aniseed dominate the nose, followed by a creamy lemon character. The palate is reminiscent of the nose, with great textural complexity, attributable to the long, slow wild yeast fermentation. -
- False Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Waterkloof Estate
- Western Cape, South Africa
- False Bay Vineyards
- (1 x 75cl)
- £9.25
- 2024
False Bay Sauvignon Blanc represents superb quality and value. The fruit is sourced from Paadeberg, Durbanville and Stellenbosch. A cool, aromatic nose of citrus fruit and green apple with a gooseberry palate. -
- False Bay Chardonnay
- Western Cape, South Africa
- False Bay Vineyards
- (1 x 75cl)
- £9.50
- 2023
A low yielding site in Robertson produces the 100% Chardonnay needed for this excellent wine. A tiny amount of oak but this wine is really about the bright mineral fruit and acidity. -
- False Bay Cinsault Mourvedre Rose
- Western Cape, South Africa
- False Bay Vineyards
- (1 x 75cl)
- £9.50
- 2023
Old bush vine Cinsault forms the backbone of this 'proper' rosé. A pale, spicy and textural Rosé mostly sourced from bush-vine Cinsault with summer fruits on the palate and a lovely clean, savoury, dry finish. -
- False Bay Syrah
- Western Cape, South Africa
- False Bay Vineyards
- (1 x 75cl)
- £11.00
- 2023
Wild yeast fermentation, low yields and ageing in large French oak foudre are what defines this savoury and appealing Syrah. Full yet elegant with bramble fruits and also some earth and meaty aromas.