Nativo White Blend 2010

Nativo wines have garnered immense popularity since their first bottling in 2004. The success behind the brand is from the enthusiastic owners, Billy and Penny Hughes, of The Hughes Family Wines. Billy, who originates from Argentina, has achieved his one time dream of making quality wine since he settled in the Cape in 1999. The story starts when in 2000 Billy and Penny bought a 57ha wheat farm outside Malmesbury overlooking the Kasteelberg mountains. They planted 27ha under vine and besides growing  grapes for his own wines he sells the excess to an eager group of respected  wine makers.   Billy makes both a white, an excellent Viognier, and a red which is a blend of predominantly Rhone varieties with the addition of our local Pinotage. Penny assists Billy with the all important role of marketing and administrating the brand.

The Rhone varieties planted are Shiraz, Mourvedre, Viognier, Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne as they tend to do well in the warm climate and type of soil on the farm. Other varieties planted include Pinotage, Merlot and Chenin Blanc. The vines receive no irrigation and rely solely on winter rains and natural moisture in the summer. The vines are cared for by viticulturalist Kevin Watt who follows sustainable organic farming practises. It’s pleasing to know that no chemical fertilisers and pesticides are used. This is largely due to the warm breezy climate and dry land farming techniques. Organic farming is not easy and demands constant vigilance and ongoing application of new methods based on trial and error. However each successive vintage allows for the Nativo team to gain more knowledge which results in better management and control of their vineyards.

One of the positive results of their organic farming practise is that the berry develops strong healthy wild yeasts which means they don’t have to use  commercial yeasts to induce fermentation. Billy who regards himself as a “wine designer” rather than a wine maker states “This is integral to the development of flavours and other characteristics that give a wine its site-specific signature”. Billy’s first wine was the Nativo 2004 red blend and the current vintage, the 2009 continues to please the most discernable palate.

The white blend was introduced with the first vintage in 2008. The current vintage, 2010, is a harmonious blend of oaked Viognier (75%) with the balance of Chenin Blanc. The wine offers subtle spicy aromatic aromas with complex, yet silky flavours of peaches and cream, finishing dry and minerally. We enjoyed the wine with a creamy mushroom risotto and later we finished it with some Roquefort cheese. The wine is also delicious on its own and has the ability to mature for another couple of years.

Buy at Wine Concepts for R84.00