HOME TO ANCIENT SOILS
Our unique hilltop location on the flanks of the Polkadraai Hills provides a mezzo-climate that allows us to pay tribute to the Bordeaux concept whilst reinterpreting it to be uniquely South African. The recognition of this land’s untapped potential laid the foundation for De Toren’s approach to producing wines with pronounced Left Bank and Right Bank characteristics.
Inspired by the world-renowned Bordeaux wines, each of our distinct wines is site-specific and a true reflection of the soil and conditions in which they grow, ensuring a unique flavour profile for each of these wines. Incredibly, De Toren has bestowed an unusually high concentration of soils with over 15 different soil types across the 25 hectares. Working with academics from the University of Stellenbosch no less than 10 rootstocks were matched to 25 different clones and planted in microlots to match the specific soils.
It is this greatest level of detail and care that evolved over decades and became our philosophy of Exceptional Care in everything we do.
Our unique hilltop location on the flanks of the Polkadraai Hills provides a mezzo-climate that allows us to pay tribute to the Bordeaux concept whilst reinterpreting it to be uniquely South African. The recognition of this land’s untapped potential laid the foundation for De Toren’s approach to producing wines with pronounced Left Bank and Right Bank characteristics.
Inspired by the world-renowned Bordeaux wines, each of our distinct wines is site-specific and a true reflection of the soil and conditions in which they grow, ensuring a unique flavour profile for each of these wines. Incredibly, De Toren has bestowed an unusually high concentration of soils with over 15 different soil types across the 25 hectares. Working with academics from the University of Stellenbosch no less than 10 rootstocks were matched to 25 different clones and planted in microlots to match the specific soils.
It is this greatest level of detail and care that evolved over decades and became our philosophy of Exceptional Care in everything we do.
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Typically, Bordeaux Left Bank vines thrive in poorer quality soils where their roots burrow deep down in search of moisture. As a result, the plant's physiological reaction to water deficit or restraint is to upregulate all the processes that favour berry ripening versus vegetative growth, resulting in berries with greater intensity and character. Born from vineyards that are high in gravel content with prolonged exposure to the warm afternoon sun, these conditions are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Similarly, at De Toren our Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are grown in ancient granite soils, originating from mother material dating back 540 million years. in soils consist of soils made up of hardy decomposed granite. The Cabernet Sauvignon cultivar were favoured to soils such as Klapmuts, Escorts, Vilafontés and Tukulu's - where more gravel in the form of sandstone pebbles are visible in the top layer. In the creation of our iconic Fusion V, Cabernet Sauvignon plays a dominant role with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot playing a supporting role to perfectly balance what has become one of South Africa's most iconic Bordeaux-style blends.
Typically, Bordeaux Left Bank vines thrive in poorer quality soils where their roots burrow deep down in search of moisture. As a result, the plant's physiological reaction to water deficit or restraint is to upregulate all the processes that favour berry ripening versus vegetative growth, resulting in berries with greater intensity and character. Born from vineyards that are high in gravel content with prolonged exposure to the warm afternoon sun, these conditions are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. Similarly, at De Toren our Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are grown in ancient granite soils, originating from mother material dating back 540 million years. in soils consist of soils made up of hardy decomposed granite. The Cabernet Sauvignon cultivar were favoured to soils such as Klapmuts, Escorts, Vilafontés and Tukulu's - where more gravel in the form of sandstone pebbles are visible in the top layer. In the creation of our iconic Fusion V, Cabernet Sauvignon plays a dominant role with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot playing a supporting role to perfectly balance what has become one of South Africa's most iconic Bordeaux-style blends.
In Bordeaux France, Right Bank styled wines are Merlot dominated and thrive in soils that have an upper layer of clay. Clay tends to carry more nutrients and retains more water than gravel soils, especially during the warm summer months, which perfectly suits varietals such as Merlot. At De Toren, our Merlot vineyards carry the same terroir characteristics and are centered on more clay rich areas, consisting of Tulula and Pinedene soil types that retains more water and buffer vines better. The Merlot vineyards at De Toren also face South directly into the cool ocean breezes. Our De Toren Z derives its name from the Dutch word Zuid, meaning South, as a tribute to the importance of the cooling ocean breezes so critical to the making of our Merlot-dominated "Zee" as it is affectionately known.
In Bordeaux France, Right Bank styled wines are Merlot dominated and thrive in soils that have an upper layer of clay. Clay tends to carry more nutrients and retains more water than gravel soils, especially during the warm summer months, which perfectly suits varietals such as Merlot. At De Toren, our Merlot vineyards carry the same terroir characteristics and are centered on more clay rich areas, consisting of Tulula and Pinedene soil types that retains more water and buffer vines better. The Merlot vineyards at De Toren also face South directly into the cool ocean breezes. Our De Toren Z derives its name from the Dutch word Zuid, meaning South, as a tribute to the importance of the cooling ocean breezes so critical to the making of our Merlot-dominated "Zee" as it is affectionately known.
Born out of a long-held belief that the greater the soil, the greater the complexity of the wine, we embarked on a journey to restore the soil‘s natural biodiversity and balance. With the utmost respect for nature, precision and sustainable practices were employed. Our vineyards, designed from the ground up, are nurtured by a select team of women, elevating each parcel of grapes to perfection to produce luxury world-class wines. We are pleased to have our wines officially certified organic from the 2020 vintage, a meaningful milestone to mark decades of devotion.
Born out of a long-held belief that the greater the soil, the greater the complexity of the wine, we embarked on a journey to restore the soil‘s natural biodiversity and balance. With the utmost respect for nature, precision and sustainable practices were employed. Our vineyards, designed from the ground up, are nurtured by a select team of women, elevating each parcel of grapes to perfection to produce luxury world-class wines. We are pleased to have our wines officially certified organic from the 2020 vintage, a meaningful milestone to mark decades of devotion.