Survivor ventures out to cooler pastures with new Chardonnay

Survivor, the intrepid range of authentic terroir specific wines, has ventured out to cooler pastures with the release of a new Chardonnay from Elgin vineyards.

Raised in the Swartland as a tribute to the spirited indigenous Nguni cow that stands proud on every bottle, Survivor wines are acclaimed both locally and internationally for their profound sense of place. The decision to find additional vineyard sites was taken to ensure that their premium wines are made from vineyards best suited to each particular grape variety.

“Survivor wines are terroir driven, so it is important for us to source our wines from the best sites. Elgin is one of the sites where Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay express their true character, while our signature Chenin Blanc and Pinotage will always remain firmly rooted in the Swartland,” says winemaker Ben Snyman.

Survivor winemaker Ben Snyman

Given the inevitable effect of climate change, the winemaking team is also being proactive in venturing beyond the Swartland for varieties that are better suited to cooler climes.

Survivor’s low-yielding Swartland vineyards grow in deep red Oakleaf and Hutton soils, fanned by cooling afternoon and evening breezes from the Atlantic, while the cooler dryland Elgin vines grow in sandy loam soils.

“The Elgin vineyards fit perfectly with our single minded focus on crafting site specific wines that express their true sense of place and authenticity,” adds Snyman.

In addition to the new Elgin origin, Survivor Chardonnay 2019 is the first wine in the range supported by an interactive web-based augmented reality (AR) device. Activated by a dedicated QR code on the back of the bottle, the Survivor journey comes to life when the label is scanned on your smartphone.

The AR capability immerses you into the 3D world of Survivor and can be found on all the new vintage releases after lockdown. You’ll have the freedom to explore the Survivor vineyards of the Swartland and Elgin, guided by winemaker Ben Snyman, and watch Survivor’s sense of place unfold.

The new barrel-fermented Survivor Chardonnay 2019 expresses intense citrus and peach with floral undertones. It is fruity with mouth-filling richness from contact with the lees (spent yeast cells) during 10 months in barrel while retaining its freshness. The wine portrays its cool climate pedigree with crisp liveliness and a lingering finish.

Benefits of the slow ripening conditions typical of the cooler Elgin climate, shape the character of this enjoyable, full-flavoured Chardonnay with richness and fresh acidity in perfect balance.

Be the first to taste this exciting new Chardonnay pre-release by purchasing the wine from the Survivor online shop at R200 a bottle for delivery after the lockdown at https://survivorwines.com/wine-shop/.

Issued by: GC COMMUNICATIONS
Pictures: SUPPLIED

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