vinification
Arid & Co. grapes are sourced from the ‘Golden Tri-angle’, Stellenbosch, an area renowned for its superior red wines, and the Breede River Valley with its history of ‘old vine’ Chenin Blanc and exceptional Chardonnay.
Great emphasis is placed on phenolic ripeness and fermentation temperatures, the cornerstones in preserving the primary fruit during the critical stages of picking and fermentation.
Fermentation in both open and closed fermenters lasts seven to twelve days. Selected lots undergo extended maceration for up to twenty-one days after which ageing takes place in a variety of French oak barrels for nine to sixteen months.
Meticulous care is taken that the grapes reach their final destination, in the bottle, with minimal intervention and in Reserved quality – All wines are Vegan Friendly, Gluten Free and naturally sedimented (filtered).
Michael’s winemaking philosophy reflects his roots- Simplistic & Minimalistic.
Certification
Our wines are produced according to the highest standards of food safety. Each bottle has a seal with a unique number. It reflects the quality and sustainability of the grapes and the wine making process.
The seal is unique to South African wine and no other wine producing country can offer consumers peace of mind on this level. This seal is a guarantee to the consumers that the wine has been approved of in terms of the following quality standards:
- One hundred percent of the grapes used in the wine making process come from the area shown on the bottle;
- The wine is bottled in South Africa;
- Controls are in place to ensure that environmentally friendly practices are followed;
- At least 85% of the grapes are of the variety shown on the bottle;
- The wine is made using sustainable methods meaning that producers are encouraged to introduce natural pest controlling methods rather than chemicals;
- Health and safety of workers is ensured;
- Wine farms are audited every three years and may only use the seal of quality if they are approved of by an independent auditor.
Consumers can find information on any South African wine by going to the following website: www.swsa.co.za and entering the number on the seal to see if the product is authentic or not.
