Carinus Family Vineyards is in Stellenbosch, South Africa. It has a history of five generations. Cousins Danie and Hugo run it. They use their family's legacy and vineyards in Swartland, Devon Valley, and Polkadraai. Carinus may be new, but they focus on quality and tradition.
Beginnings
Danie and Hugo started as grape growers. They supplied top producers like Alheit Vineyards and Crystallum. But they wanted to do more. They began making their own wines. Their goal was to make wines that show the unique tastes of their land.
The vineyards are key. They carefully chose sites in Swartland, Devon Valley, and Polkadraai. Each has a special soil and climate. These vineyards provide the grapes for their wines.
The Wines
They make three Chenin Blancs from Swartland. These come from a 37-year-old vineyard with red granitic soils. The Rooidraai and Carinus Chenin Blancs show the grape's character. The Polkadraai Chenin Blanc has a unique minerality and a pH level of 3.14.
For red wine fans, they offer a Syrah from Polkadraai. It's fresh and sourced from whole bunches. This Syrah shows the region's unique character. It's a sign of their focus on quality.
The wines are popular in South Africa. The Rooidraai Chenin Blanc got a 5-star rating in the Platter guide. The Carinus Chenin got 4.5 stars. This shows their winemaking skill.
They also work with winemaker Lukas van Loggerenberg. Together, they make wines under the Danchko Luka label. They use grapes from their vineyards. This includes Muscat de Frontignan from Danie's sister's land in Polkadraai. Lukas ferments this in old oak. It spends five days on its skins. This makes a unique wine.
Carinus Family Vineyards is part of South Africa's winemaking story. Danie and Hugo focus on their land, tradition, and making great wines. They are taking their family's legacy forward, one bottle at a time.