Origin

This is a blend of 71% Sauvignon blanc and 29% Semillon. It was made from grapes grown on the highest slopes of Tokara’s Stellenbosch property.

Soils

The soils are Oakleaf formed from decomposed granite with colluvial sandstone. With a high fraction of gravel and friable granite.

Slopes

South and South west Aspects ranging from 360 to 540 meters above sea level.

Cropping & Harvesting

The vines cropped between 7 and 12.0 tons per hectare. The grapes were hand-picked at optimal flavour ripeness at sugars between 22.5 and 23.5 brix and acidities of 6 g/l to 8.5 g/l..

Winemaking

The grapes were de-stemmed and crushed and pressed immediately in our inert press. The press juice and free run juice were kept separate and settled overnight, before the clean juice was racked off. Only the free run juice from the best blocks. The juice was then inoculated and sent to barrel for fermentation. 400L barrels for the Sauvignon blanc and 225 L for the Semillon. All the barrels used were French oak of which around 27 % was new. After fermentation the barrels were topped and left on the lees for 9 months with regular lees stirring. The wine was blended in November, stabilised, filtered and bottled soon after. The wine spent a total of 9 months in barrel. 11 000 bottles were produced.

Tasting Notes

This wine displays an intense deep straw colour. The nose displays stunning complexity with fruit notes of ripe quince, passion fruit and baked apples, there are hints of lemon grass, toasted almonds and freshly baked brioche. The wine enters the palate full and rich reminiscent of the aromas on the noose. The wine finishes with amazing clarity and depth with a slight grip just lingering.

Food Pairing

Best served with foods such as grilled fish, roasted Quail and Duck.

This wine drinks exceptionally well now but will continue to develop and improve through till 2025.

Tokara is the embodiment of GT Ferreira’s philosophy that good wine, good food and good art go together to make a good lifestyle. The magnificent private commission of installation art by Marco Cianfanelli, The Mind’s Vine, encapsulates the narrative of the creation of TOKARA and reflects our origins as a superlative wine growing environment. It engraves the history of TOKARA into the experience of every visitor to this breath-taking estate. At the centre of the Cape Winelands lies the Simonsberg mountain, a fynbos-rich massif, home to exceptional vineyards since the 17th century. It’s on the southern slopes, with unrivalled views over False Bay to Table Mountain, that you will find TOKARA’s home vineyards and olive groves.

Vineyards

Situated 50km to the east of Table Mountain, the TOKARA “home farm” is rested on the Simonsberg side of the Banghoek Valley, at elevations of between 350m and 550m. Soil profiles are of weathered sandstone and decomposed granite, the combination lendingstructure, perfume and longevity to our wines. Our Highlands vineyard lies to the south of Stellenbosch in Elgin, a cool-climate area atop Sir Lowry’s Pass. Soils are predominantly Table Mountain sandstone imparting an ethereal scent to our Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Background

In 1994 GT Ferreira purchased the Tokara farm for residential purposes. But that was until the wine-making potential of this land was discovered. The cool air makes for great wine and soon classic varietals were planted along the slopes of the Helshoogte Pass.From the estate, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of Idas Valley, False Bay and the Simonsberg Mountains. Three different farms in Stellenbosch, Elgin and Hemel-and-Arde valley supply the Tokara winery. The Highlands vineyard in Elgin is surrounded by Fynbos and near the coast. Due to it being cooler in Elgin, the Highlands Sauvignon Blanc ripens six weeks later than the Tokara Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. The Tokara Premium Wine Range includes Whites such as the Reserve Collection Walker Bay Chardonnay, Reserve Collection Noble Late Harvest, Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc, White (Semillon), Elgin Sauvignon Blanc and Stellenbosch Chardonnay. The Red is called Red (A Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot blend).