A South African estate is launching what it says is the country’s first wine available to buy en primeur.
The Darling-based Cloof winery, which launched its Bordeaux-blend ‘Lynchpin’ wine earlier this year, has started selling its 2005 vintage before it has been bottled.
Although the practice of buying wines before bottling is the norm in places like Bordeaux, the producers say this is the first time a South African wine has been available in this way.
The wine costs £11.85 per bottle including duty and VAT.
‘It may be selling at three times the average selling price of South African wine in the UK, but I think it’s a bargain,’ said Cloof’s commercial director, Oscar Foulkes.
Foulkes said he is aiming increase the consumer’s awareness of the quality of South African wines and to set Cloof apart from other big brand names.
‘By offering this wine en primeur we’re hopefully going to get some people to stop for a moment, and give some thought to where they think South Africa fits into the world of wine,’ he said. ‘Kumala, First Cape and others are doing an important job for South Africa, but there is a whole lot more to our wines than what these brands are portraying.’
Written by Oliver Styles
