2023 Swartland Grenache, Spice Route

• Style: Bright, juicy, supple-tannined Grenache
• Taste: Red cherry, wild strawberry, white pepper, dried herb
• Food: Grilled meats, roasted chicken, charcuterie, braises
• Occasion: Weeknight dinner, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 13.5% ABV, cool to room temperature

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Alive with red cherry and raspberry, this wine jumps from the glass with white pepper and dried herb aromatics. The palate is juicy and supple, with fine tannins that feel textural rather than heavy, and acidity that keeps everything fresh and poised. At 13.5% ABV, it drinks with real refinement—a Grenache that tastes like place and vintage, not extraction.

The Winery — Spice Route

Founded in 1998 by Charles Back, Spice Route transformed Swartland from overlooked region into one of South Africa's most credible sources. Winemaker Charl du Plessis, part of that story for 15 years, knows the terroir intimately. The 2023 vintage benefited from an unusually cool growing season, pushing harvest two weeks earlier and concentrating fruit purity. Grapes come from the Amoskuil vineyard on Malmesbury shale—ancient bedrock that gives wines remarkable presence. The unirrigated bush vines, planted in 2006, are hitting their stride. Du Plessis fermented in open concrete and aged 16 months in old French oak, letting the fruit speak rather than imposing oak weight. Vegan and organic, this is winemaking philosophy distilled: grow exceptional fruit, then step back.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

This is the wine for grilled meats, roasted chicken, or a proper charcuterie board. Pair it with braised vegetables, baked eggplant, or any savoury dish that needs brightness and spice. The supple tannins and fresh acidity make it equally at home at a weeknight dinner or Sunday lunch. Whether you're exploring Swartland's rising reputation or deepening your appreciation of South Africa's best, this bottle proves why the region matters. It sits comfortably alongside our broader Grenache & Garnacha selection as an outstanding expression of what modern South African winemaking can achieve.