Jordan Wines Assyrtiko, Stellenbosch

Description

Jordan Wines Assyrtiko | South African Assyrtiko from Stellenbosch

Jordan Wines Assyrtiko is made from the mother block, the very first block of Assyrtiko vines planted in South Africa. Grown in the cool-climate terroir of Stellenbosch, Jordan’s version of this classic Greek grape variety, synonymous with the volcanic soils of Santorini, retains the grape’s signature steely acidity and citrus-driven precision while expressing the distinctive character of the Cape – crisp, mineral, and beautifully refreshing. Buy Jordan Wines Assyrtiko at Fareham Wine Cellar and discover one of the most intriguing white wines to emerge from South Africa in recent years.

Jordan Assyrtiko Winemaking & Maturation

• 100% Assyrtiko from 6-year-old vines
• Planted on decomposed granite and loam
• Grapes hand-picked and placed directly into a small basket press
• Gentle pressing followed by cold settling of the juice for 48 hours
• Fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve pure varietal character
• Kept on the lees for four months before racking

Jordan Vineyards & New Varieties

Jordan Estate vineyards are planted with an impressive breadth of varieties. Whites include Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and – unusually for Stellenbosch – Assyrtiko. First planted in 2020, Assyrtiko has adapted remarkably well to the Stellenbosch climate. The success of the original vineyard has led the estate to expand plantings to two substantial blocks, with a third already planned. Reds span Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, and Petit Verdot. The range runs from the estate varietal wines through to the flagship Cobbler’s Hill and Nine Yards Chardonnay.

Innovation remains at the heart of Jordan, with the team continuing to push boundaries through the planting of two further international varieties: Xinomavro, the noble Greek red traditionally associated with northern Greece, and Mencía, the characterful Iberian grape at home in Spain and Portugal.

Jordan Wine Estate

Jordan Wine Estate occupies a stunning 164-hectare property in Stellenbosch Kloof, founded in 1982 when Ted and Sheelagh Jordan acquired the site and began an ambitious programme of planting classic varieties across its cool hillside vineyards.

The estate took a defining turn in 1993 when Ted’s son Gary and daughter-in-law Kathy Jordan assumed control. Their credentials are formidable – both trained at the University of California, Davis, where Gary studied viticulture and oenology, and Kathy combined winemaking with agricultural economics and marketing. Returning to South Africa in the early 1990s, they built the winery in 1992 and have since established themselves as one of the Cape’s most respected husband-and-wife winemaking partnerships.

Stellenbosch Kloof

The dramatic ravine of Stellenbosch Kloof acts as a natural compass, offering a remarkable diversity of elevations and aspects across the estate. This allows Jordan to match each variety precisely to the sites that best suit it – a philosophy of place that runs through every wine they make. The cooler, south-facing slopes are home to the estate’s more delicate aromatic whites, typified by the elegantly expressive Timepiece Sauvignon Blanc.