Constantia Glen winemaker launches his own range

The four Van Wyk Family wines in the range are made of grapes sourced by Van Wyk from specially selected vineyards planted across the Western Cape. These wines are crafted at the Constantia Glen Winery and are available for purchase and tasting at the estate’s tasting room.

Justin van Wyk (Image Supplied)

The range includes:

• Van Wyk Family Wines Chenin Blanc 2016 - made from grapes sourced from a 37-year-old vineyard in the Slanghoek Valley in the Breedekloof and blended with a splash of 10% Riesling.

• Van Wyk Family Wines Olivia Grace 2016 - a unique Cape white blend of 43% Chenin Blanc, 26% Chardonnay, 26% Riesling and 5% Viognier.

• Van Wyk Family Wines Rebecca May 2016 - an intriguing blend of 62% Cinsaut and 38% Syrah. The Cinsaut stems from a Breedekloof vineyard planted in 1995 in extremely rocky soil, predominantly made up of white river stones, and the Syrah component was sourced from the cool-climatic region of Elgin.

• Van Wyk Family Wines Syrah 2016 - crafted to express pure Syrah fruit from cool-climate vineyards and matured for 12 months in second fill French oak barrels after undergoing fermentation with 50% whole-bunch and 50% destemmed grapes.

The two white and two red wines illustrate the Western Cape’s heritage grape varieties, with the majority of the grapes being sourced from relatively old vineyards. “In order to showcase the diversity of the Cape’s soils and climates, I buy grapes from Darling, Stellenbosch, Breedekloof, Elgin and even Montagu. For me it is about exploration and learning from others about a product that I am very passionate about,” explains Van Wyk.

On the label

“These wines are very special to me as they bear my family name. The blends are crafted to showcase the diversity of the Cape, and these are particularly dear to me as they are named after my two daughters, Rebecca May and Olivia Grace,” says Van Wyk.

Featuring daffodils, the national flower of Wales, the Van Wyk Family Wines logo pays tribute to his wife, Tracy’s Welsh heritage. “The three colourful flowers symbolise my wife and daughters who bring so much happiness, colour and laughter into my life. Their playful spirit and joie de vivre are my inspiration to work hard and create something special and unique,” explains Van Wyk.

Van Wyk’s own Karoo roots also feature strongly. “The Merino ram, windmill and Karoo hills on the logo depict my own heritage and where I come from,” adds Van Wyk, who grew up on a Merino sheep farm in the Great Karoo where his family still farm today.