The Producer
Waterkloof Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc comes from Waterkloof, one of the Cape’s most distinctive coastal estates, high on the Schapenberg near Somerset West. The farm is worked with regenerative methods: cows and goats graze between the vines for manure and weed control, the soils stay free of chemicals and are fed with the estate’s own compost, and the vines’ roots reach deeper than five metres.
In the cellar, the philosophy is to step back and let each vineyard speak. The Circumstance range is where that site expression shows most clearly.
Vintage & Terroir
The vineyards sit 270–300 metres above sea level, about five kilometres from the sea, on a south-west facing, windy site with an average vine age of 19 years. The soils are of sandstone origin with medium-sized stones that help with both drainage and moisture retention, and the constant wind keeps yields naturally low.
The 2025 season on the Schapenberg was mild and dry, tempered by Atlantic breezes. Ripening was slow and even, with excellent balance between sugar and acidity, and slightly lower yields put the focus firmly on quality.
In the Cellar
The grapes were picked on taste, harvested and sorted by hand, then whole-bunch pressed in a basket press for the purest juice. After 24 hours of natural settling, the juice was fermented by the wild yeasts present on the grapes in old 600-litre barrels. Fermentation took four months, and the wine then stayed on its gross lees for more than eight months before bottling. No acid or enzymes were added, just a light filtration and a small dose of sulphur before bottling.
Tasting Notes
- Nose: Fresh lime and gooseberry with subtle stone fruit.
- Palate: Refined and precise, with bright acidity and a fine mineral edge.
- Finish: Long and lingering.
Rated 94/100 — Winemag.co.za, 2025.
Food Pairing
Winemaker Nadia Langenegger’s own pick is prawns on the grill, drizzled with butter and lime. It is just as good with fresh oysters, grilled crayfish or a goat’s cheese salad. Order your case and keep the Tribe fed.
Technical Details
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Region | Schapenberg, Stellenbosch |
| Grape(s) | Sauvignon Blanc |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Residual Sugar | 2.4 g/l |
| Total Acidity | 6.6 g/l |
| pH | 3.1 |
| Fermentation | Wild yeast, old 600-litre barrels (4 months) |
| Maturation | 8+ months on gross lees |
| Production | 33 000 bottles |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
| Case Size | 6 bottles |
Our Guarantee
Every case of Waterkloof Circumstance Sauvignon Blanc 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.
