Salt Rock "La Niña" Semillon Gris 2023

Soon to be a cult wine, this truly reflects what skin contact can do to this amazing grape variety. A beautiful gold-green in color, the wine opens with expressive aromas of ripe stone fruit and a whiff of salinity. On the palate, extended skin contact lends the wine impressive weight and texture, creating a rich and structured mouthfeel. Salty with a hint of creamy richness, but there is a laser fresh acidity with zest and a touch of brine. The wine has a mineral core from aging in concrete, showing the terroir of the unique site.

Also known as "red" Sémillon due to its pink-skinned grapes, Sémillon Gris is a rarity especially found in South Africa. This vineyard is in the Swartland region on the slopes of the Paardeberg. The unique climate with the altitude helps with a slow ripening period resulting in fruit packed with flavor.

The grapes were handpicked at optimal ripeness during the early hours of the morning. The fruit was destemmed and allowed skin contact for three days before pressing to separate the juice. Spontaneous fermentation and maturation in concrete egg contribute a distinct mineral persistence, enhancing the wine’s freshness while allowing the character of the unique vineyard site to shine through. The result is a wine that is both textural and vibrant, with a clear sense of terroir and depth.

Salt Rock Wines, based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is a boutique producer focused on minimal-intervention, site-specific wines that express unique terroir, often on decomposed granite. Led by winemaker Alexander Grier, the brand creates approachable yet serious wines aimed at highlighting climate influences and the effects of two climate phenomena, El Nino and La Nina, through a focus on dry farmed, coastal, and cool climate sites.