Damascene Vineyards

Damascene is the shared project of Jean Smit, former winemaker at Boekenhoutskloof and Canadian entrepreneur (and former owner of Château Gaby) David Curl. Together, they scour South Africa for outstanding, well-established vineyards to produce Damascene’s wines – each one displaying the regional variety of South Africa’s wine regions. Jean and David select only the finest performing vineyards, so the wines are produced in particularly small quantities.

The wines are all regional, varietal examples, showcasing these South African wines in their purest forms. From the rich peach and almond palate of the Swartland Chenin Blanc to the elegant cranberry and black cherry notes of the Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon, the scope of this country’s renowned viticulture is palpable in these bottles.

Western Cape

The Western Cape wine region in South Africa is one of the country's most prominent and renowned wine-producing areas. It encompasses a variety of distinct wine regions, each with its terroir, grape varietals, and winemaking traditions. Some well-known wine regions within the Western Cape include Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Constantia, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, and Swartland.

Stellenbosch, often called the heart of South African wine, is renowned for its historic vineyards, picturesque landscapes, and award-winning wines. It produces a wide range of grape varietals, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc, and Syrah particularly notable.

Franschhoek, known as the "French Corner" due to its Huguenot heritage, offers a scenic setting surrounded by mountains. This region is recognised for its world-class sparkling wines, Chardonnay and Semillon.

Paarl is known for its diverse terroir, producing rich, full-bodied red wines such as Shiraz and Pinotage. It is also home to historic estates and has a warm Mediterranean climate.

Constantia, located near Cape Town, is one of the oldest wine regions in South Africa. It is famous for its elegant and sought-after white wines, particularly the sweet dessert wine called Vin de Constance.

Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, situated close to the coastal town of Hermanus, is known for its cool climate and specialises in producing exceptional cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Swartland, located north of Cape Town, has gained recognition for its innovative winemaking and for producing unique and expressive wines from traditional and alternative grape varieties.

The Western Cape wine region benefits from diverse soils, varied microclimates, and proximity to the ocean, creating favourable conditions for grape cultivation. South African winemakers in the Western Cape often combine traditional winemaking practices with modern techniques, resulting in wines that reflect the region's distinct characteristics and balance New and Old World influences.

Syrah/Shiraz

A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.

It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.

South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.