Origin

This is a blend of 97% Shiraz with Grenache and Mourvedre from grapes originating from Stellenbosch and the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley.

Cropping & Harvesting

The vineyards crop at between 12 and 20 t/ha. The grapes were handpicked at optimal ripeness with sugars between 22 and 24.5 degrees brix and acidities ranging from 4.5 to 7.5 g/l.

Winemaking

.First the fermenters are loaded with 25% whole bunches by hand before the remaining capacity of the tank is filled with destemed and crushed fruit. The grapes are left to cold soak until the fermentation starts spontaneously. They were fermented in stainless steel and wooden upright (foudre) fermenters. Pump-over’s, dellastage and punching down of the cap were implemented twice a day for extraction until fermentation was completed. The tanks were given maceration post fermentation if the quality warranted it, depending on tannin development. The wines were put to barrel for malolactic fermentation after which they were sulphured up and left in barrel for further maturation. The wines spend a total of ten months in barrel, 10% of which is new French barriques with the balance being 2nd to 5th fill barriques. After which the batches are blended and then kept in stainless steel for a further 6 months before being filtered and bottled. The wine was bottled in June 2017. 70 000 bottles were produced.

Tasting Notes

The wine displays a red plum colour in the glass. Aromas of plums, blackberries and briary fruit emanate with underlying notes of dried herbs black olives and cured meats and a hint of cedar wood. Flavours on the palate are quite savoury and herbal with a good support of red fruit notes. The mid-palate is juicy yet the finish is dry with beautiful fine chalky tannin leaving one its impression at the end..

Food Pairing

A perfect pairing with roast pork loin, quail, or duck breast. Or drink it on its own even slightly chilled.

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).