The Producer
Steel Wines Colombard is made by Jason Steel, a MasterChef South Africa 2013 finalist and former sommelier who worked front-of-house at Cape Town’s Test Kitchen and Foxcroft before turning to winemaking. He makes tiny batches from small Breede River Valley parcels, with a chef’s sense of balance and a soft spot for underdog varieties.
Colombard has become his signature: a grape the Cape has long used for bulk wine, blends and brandy, treated here with the care usually saved for Chenin or Chardonnay. In his words, from workhorse to dark horse.
Vintage & Terroir
For 2023, Jason moved to a much younger parcel than the 2022: a vineyard planted in 2009 just outside Bonnievale, a stone’s throw from the Breede River. It is tiny, roughly 0.19 hectares and 792 vines, on largely sandy, alluvial soils with scatterings of limestone. That limestone shows in the wine’s taut, mineral line.
In the Cellar
The grapes were crushed and destemmed, pressed, and racked straight into old 500-litre French oak barrels. Fermentation was natural, with no added yeast, and the wine stayed in barrel for a further 12 months. The old oak adds texture and weight rather than wood flavour. It was lightly filtered before bottling.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Ripe stone fruit, with green mango and peach.
- Palate: Superbly balanced and integrated, with lovely weight from the barrel ageing and a refreshing, mineral acidity.
- Finish: Long and fresh, with stone fruit lingering.
- Drinking window: Enjoy now or cellar for 5–8 years.
Food Pairing
The bright acidity makes it a natural seafood wine. Try it with a fresh white-fish ceviche, Cape Malay mussels or a Thai-style seafood curry, where the stone fruit stands up to the spice. Order your case and keep the Tribe fed.
Technical Details
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Region | Bonnievale, Robertson |
| Grape(s) | Colombard |
| Vineyard | Planted 2009, approx. 0.19 ha (792 vines) |
| Alcohol | 12.5% |
| Residual Sugar | 2.1 g/l |
| Total Acidity | 8.1 g/l |
| pH | 3.11 |
| Oak | 12 months in old 500-litre French oak barrels |
| Closure | Cork |
| Cellaring | Drink now or cellar for 5–8 years |
| 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 a happy Tribe.
