The Sadie Family Primeur 2026

Palladius is the top white cuvée of the Sadie Family. The grapes come from 17 different vines in the Paardeberg - 13 on granite soils, 4 on sandstone. Very complex in the glass too!

The Skurfberg Mountain is part of the Citrusdal mountain area and the word Skurfberg (Rugged Mountain) mainly refers to the edgy and rough appearance of the mountain. The soil is mainly decomposed Table Mountain sandstone formations and tends to be very sandy. It is a truly great site for Chenin and it is most unusual that such a warm and dry area still produces wines with this enormous texture and freshness.

Skerpioen (Scorpion) is a wine from a very unique location halfway between Dwarskersbos and Elands Bay on the West Coast. One of the most amazing aspects of this location is the fact that the soils are chalky (limestone). In addition to that it is one of the coolest parts of the Swartland region, located a mere 2km from the Atlantic Ocean, but it is also a very dry area with an average rainfall of around 300mm per year. This location is home to some of the most intense south-easterly winds and the old vines look almost abused after having been battered by winds and blowing sand for years and years.

The Kokerboom vineyard consists of around 80% white Green Grape and 20% red Green Grape. They pick them together and press them simultaneously. The wine is one of the richest wines produced with pure volume and massive texture. The Semillon ripens very well in this area due to the high solar radiation and the grapes enter the cellar between 13.5 – 14% alcohol.

The Rotsbank vineyard is located in the Paardeberg in the Aprilskloof on a rock shelf that barely has 30 – 50 cm of soil in most parts. It is incredible to think that this vineyard survives year after year. Many of the roots in the soil have found cracks in this rock shelf, and the limited natural growth of this vineyard makes for incredibly concentrated fruit. Since 2008 we have wanted to produce a Swartland Chenin Blanc, but the 2022 vintage materialised as the first after we were very fortunate to purchase the vineyard.

The concept behind this wine is establishing a single vineyard site with futuristic grape varieties that will brace and stand in the future climate change. At the same time, the vineyard, with a myriad of dynamics and grape varieties, will enable them to produce a complex wine by virtue of its dynamics. It is a concept of “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,”

In South Africa like in Spain, Terroir is a relatively new concept. The oenologist of the Spanish estates we work with played a pioneering role in understanding its value. The same for Eben Sadie and its family in South Africa. Columella is the flagship of this small company. Its production is very limited, but the quality is very high.

This co-planted vineyard is planted on the western slope of the Paardeberg. Due to its aspect, it soaks up most of the afternoon sun, hence the name Sonvang (Sun Catch). On this slope, we are able to get the grapes to early maturity, especially on the earlier ripening varietals and, in most cases, with the initial fresh firm acidity. At this point, we are still having multiple picks, but in the future, with pruning dynamics and varied viticulture, we aim to have the entire spread as a singular pick and co-fermentation. We will get there, but for now, we need to get to know this vineyard.