A pair of Delheim’s latest wine releases is sure to put a spring in the step of wine-lovers who are vegans. That’s because unlike most other wineries, the famous Stellenbosch winery used zero animal products traditionally used in winemaking to produce its 2018 Delheim Pinotage Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc.
These vegan-friendly wines are available at leading wine retailers and restaurants, as well as from the farm. They sell for around R75 for the Rosé and R79 for the Sauvignon Blanc.
Animal products derived from milk, eggs, fish and including gelatine are used in a part of the winemaking process to fine and clarify the liquid before it is bottled. This limits the number of wines available to vegans and vegetarians. Delheim has however only used a type of clay called Bentonite and a plant-derived protein in the winemaking process of these two popular wines.
The Delheim Pinotage Rosé was first created by Delheim patriarch and industry legend Spatz Sperling. Vinification resulted in a wine with a rich salmon colour with vibrant pink hue. On the nose, it shows notes of pomegranate and cranberry with nuances of candy floss and blossoms. Delicate flavours of red berry fruit linger on the palate and add to the freshness of this fruit-forward yet balanced wine.
The 2018 Delheim Sauvignon Blanc was similarly impacted by the dry conditions. “Conditions like these have a specific effect on the aromatic profile of Sauvignon blanc,” he says. “In this wine, the profile is more tropical fruit.”
As with the Rosé from a variety of ideal sites, grapes were picked in coolness of early morning. Harvesting was also done to a schedule aimed at ensuring complexity in the wine. Once bottled, the wine revealed a light green hue with aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and gooseberry. On the palate, there’s green figs and lime.
For food pairing, the 2018 Delheim Sauvignon Blanc does well with a grilled aubergine bake (or grilled line fish for ‘flexitarians’) as well as a variety of season-inspired salads.
