9. 6 x Lowerland Methode Cap Classique Colombard Brut Nature 2020, Prieska, South Africa

Lowerland Méthode Cap Classique Colombard Brut Nature 2020 (sparkling), Prieska, South Africa
1 box (6 bottles) €165.30 (recommended retail price incl. VAT)
Vivino: 3.8

Wine description:
This Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) is made from Colombard grapes harvested and transported 12 hours to the Cape, where acclaimed sparkling winemaker J.D. Pretorius took over. The first fermentation occurred in old French oak barrels, followed by 14 months of bottle ageing on lees. The wine was disgorged in October 2017 — without dosage.

The grapes come from a desert-like region on the 29th parallel south — right at the edge of traditional wine-growing zones. African heat is balanced by an altitude of over 1,000 meters, with dramatic day-night temperature swings. Dry conditions create ideal circumstances for organic viticulture.

The nose shows red apple and nectarine. High acidity, light on the palate, and a striking balance between Colombard’s ripe fruit and the vivid acidity from Lowerland’s extreme terroir.

Winery:
Lowerland is located on the northern bank of the Orange River, nestled between the Doringberg of Prieska and the rocky hills of Niekerkshoop. The farm was purchased in 1965 by Oupa Coenie Coetzee, a descendant of the first Coetzee settler on the "Koedoekop" farm.

Since 2013, Bertie Coetzee (aka “Bio-Bertie”) has taken over. Together with his wife Alette, they’ve turned Lowerland into a fully certified organic farm producing not only wine, but also meats, pecans, and grains — all in an integrated, sustainable system. Cattle manure feeds the vineyards; nothing is wasted.

Thanks to the elevation (1,000 m), desert climate, and cooling river breezes, the grapes develop intense flavor, freshness, and natural acidity. Bertie invites like-minded winemakers to craft wines from his grapes. In 2015, he officially registered Prieska as a wine region — opening a bold new chapter for South African wine.