by Anlé Britz
I found myself returning to Franschhoek. Atlas Swift stood out as my taste for Chardonnay is developing and what better way to seek out a bespoke Chardonnay wine tasting. This grape variety delivers such a diverse range of wines, not only does the terroir play a big role in the wine aromas and tastes, but the viticulture possibilities re-establish the pre-conceived ideas of what Chardonnay should look, smell and taste like.
The History
Proprietors Martin and Welma Smith not only dream big, but live that dream by working hard and persevering to bring their outstanding wines from all over the Western Cape to your door. These wines represent the exceptional quality and diversity of wines our region has to offer. With a special affection for calculated evaluations of terroir, the Smiths cherish each and every piece of land in their grape-growing locations. As with their passion for the art of wine, their passion for art was proclaimed when they fell in love of the work of Ukrainian artist, Ana Kuni. They met with Ana and each label was designed to represent the wine styles ranging from light blue (flint and mineral driven) through to bright ochre (full bodied and tropical).
The venue and tasting room
Nestled on the hillside of the Franschhoek valley, Atlas Swift’s welcoming committee awaits you with male and female peacocks sitting along the fence and guinea fowl pointing the direction to the tasting room. With the Franschhoek mountains and vineyards in the backdrop, it is the perfect setting for a exciting wine experience.
The boutique tasting room is welcoming and the warm atmosphere is perfect for the cooler winter days lying ahead. On my visit I wanted to grab the last couple of hours of the light of the day and see how the sunset changes the mountains from a diverse warm shades to cool at the close off the day.
Everet, the assistant winemaker, served the wine and his heartfelt presentation transported me to each region among the vineyards. In the cellar he stopped at each process and eventually led us into the eyes of the warrior woman on the Chardonnay labels. His energy was tangible and I appreciated the attention to detail.
The wine
The wine is left for your own interpretations – here are some of mine:
Wine of Origin Cape South Coast – The grapes soak up the influences of flavours from the Indian Ocean a mere 8km away from the vineyards. The welcom sea breezes and blankets of fog allow the grapes a long ripening period which preserves the acidity levels. The chalky limestone soils infuse the grapes with fresh lime salinity and mineral flavours concluding in a lengthy finish. The grounded “Warrior of the Ocean” brings attention to inverted triangles down her nose that symbolises transformation, fluidity and flexibility.
Wine of Origin Cederberg – The grapes sunbathe at the highest altitude of the collection in the Cederberg region. The extended ripening periods gives the wine its distinctive citrus and orange blossom aromas with a smooth lemon curd finish. The light blue “Warrior of the Mountains” brings attention to the eyes, inviting you to identify her complex and intense but flirtatious primary aromas and flavours.
Wine of Origin Wellington – The grapes persevere in the harsh weather conditions of hot and dry summers (maximum average 34°C) and long, cold and wet winters (average 6°C). The heat waves and dry land (no irrigation) gives the distinctive tropical fruit aromas, grapefruit and vanilla tones to the wine. The fiercely warm and colourful “Warrior of the Sun” brings attention to the skillfully set diamonds that symbolise strength and invulnerability.
Wine of Origin Franschhoek – The grapes sing of aromatics as they bask in all the elements of the enchanting Franschhoek Valley. The sandy soils and Mediterranean climate bring out the primary flavours of peach and apricot followed by frangipani and a lingering oily finish. The bright and bold “Warrior of Valley” shines attention to the shades of yellow that symbolise joy and imagination, and the Shrub Roses with their heart shaped petals and multiple hearts all over the label symbolise the winemakers’ appreciation and admiration.
Wine of Origin Robertson – The grapes flourish in the average moderate temperature of 19°C and only 70 days of rainfall annually. The stress that the grapes undergo with little rainfall gives the grapes distinct higher acidity levels and yellow stone fruit and ripe citrus peel aromas and flavours with a creamy finish. “The Warrior of the Land” draws attention to her closed eyes focussing on looking inward towards the self. The green in the label (only one of the series) represents the harmony and freshness of this unique terroir.
This paired with a generous and beautifully curated cheese and charcuterie platter.
I will be back for the case special soon! Stay tuned for more bespoke wine and art experiences with Artroute.
A warm toast to you,
