The Producer
Steel Wines is the passion project of Jason Steel — MasterChef South Africa 2013 finalist, former sommelier and front-of-house star at Cape Town’s celebrated Test Kitchen and Foxcroft restaurants, and now a hands-on boutique winemaker. Jason’s journey from plating dishes to pressing grapes is a testament to his deep love of flavour and storytelling. Working with old-vine parcels in Robertson, he crafts tiny-batch wines that are unpretentious, expressive, and unmistakably personal. His Colombard has become a signature — the 2021 vintage scored 91 points from Christian Eedes at Winemag.
Vintage & Terroir
The Colombard grapes are sourced from a remarkable 1987 vineyard on the Arendsig property in Robertson — old vines that deliver concentrated, complex fruit with real character. Robertson’s warm days and cool Breede River Valley nights are ideal for Colombard, preserving the grape’s natural freshness and aromatic intensity even at full ripeness. The 2022 vintage continued the run of excellent quality from this special parcel.
In the Cellar
Jason inoculates with a neutral sparkling wine yeast to retain the grape’s delicate aromatics. The wine is matured for approximately 11 months in an old 500-litre barrel — formerly used for the production of Vin de Constance — adding breadth and texture without masking the fruit. The result is a Colombard of surprising depth and complexity, with old-vine concentration and thoughtful oak integration.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Pale straw with golden highlights.
Nose: Floral perfume and thatch precede citrus, peach, and melon — an aromatic tapestry that unfolds with each swirl.
Palate: Juicy and fresh with real breadth from the oak ageing. Stone fruit and citrus flavours are underpinned by a subtle creaminess, while bright acidity keeps everything taut and lively. At just 11.5% alcohol, it’s wonderfully light on its feet.
Finish: Long and refreshing, with lingering citrus and a flinty, mineral close.
Food Pairing
A stunning match for grilled crayfish with lemon butter, pan-fried snoek, or a creamy chicken pie. It also pairs beautifully with a fresh waterblommetjiebredie or a simple garden salad with goat’s cheese. Serve at 8–10°C.
Technical Details
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Region | Robertson, Western Cape |
| Grape(s) | Colombard |
| Vineyard | Arendsig, planted 1987 |
| Alcohol | 11.5% |
| Oak | ~11 months in old 500-litre barrel (ex-Vin de Constance) |
| Closure | Cork |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Case Size | 6 bottles |
Our Guarantee
Every case of Steel Wines Colombard is backed by our 100% Happiness Assured! Guarantee. If you’re not completely delighted, get in touch and we’ll make it right — no fuss, no fine print, just great wine and happy customers.
