Travelling through the Swartland on the back of a truck, heading towards an auction, a Nguni cow knew a beautiful vineyard when she saw one and jumped off on the Swartland Farm of DB Rust. She was appropriately named Survivor when the grower found her grazing in his vineyard.
This very Nguni cow called Survivor is the inspiration behind the Survivor Wines brand – a range of masterfully crafted fine wines by Overhex Wines. The Survivor range speaks to inner strength, roots, character, and refined taste.
Overhex Wines is a winery situated in Worcester. They craft wines that are refined in taste and bold in presentation, sourcing grapes from carefully selected vineyards across the Cape Winelands. Besides Survivor, their portfolio includes Mensa, Balance, and Get Lost.
Acclaimed winemaker Pierre Wahl is the cellarmaster for Survivor. He is a member of the highly respected Cape Winemakers Guild and recipient of the 2016 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year award. Pierre’s journey into winemaking is a narrative woven with a deep passion for nature and an unwavering commitment to crafting exceptional wines. Each of his wines showcase the cultivar’s fruit characteristics, embraced by an old-world elegance in structure and texture.
Pierre says, “I love making wine from different areas. I believe the more different building blocks you have, the more complex wine you will be able to make.”
Survivor’s collection includes the Terroir Range, Reserve Range, and Cellar Master Series.
The latest addition to the Terroir Range, Survivor has just unveiled their debut rosé: The Survivor Grenache Rosé 2024.
Pierre and his team sourced the grapes for the rosé from young dryland bush vines located in the Swartland, located between Malmesbury and Darling. The age of the vineyard is 6 years, and the soils are that of decomposed granite.
Grapes were hand-picked in the cool of the morning, crushed, destemmed, and left to cold soak for 4 hours to extract some flavour and colour before being pressed. The free-run and lightly pressed juice was blended and left to settle overnight before yeast was inoculated.
Fermentation was done in stainless steel tanks and took 3 weeks to complete at 13°C. The wine was left on its gross lees for 3 months before it was racked, stabilised, filtered and bottled.
The Survivor Grenache Rosé 2024 showcases an appealing light salmon hue. It is medium-bodied, offering a bouquet of strawberry, pomegranate, cherry, and red grapefruit aromas. The creamy palate features delightful hints of candyfloss, culminating in a vibrant, acidic finish.
The Grenache Rosé pairs beautifully with various types of food: Seafood (think grilled shrimps or seared scallops, a mixed greens salad with nuts and a citrus vinaigrette, herb-roasted chicken, sushi, and soft cheeses (brie, camembert, or tangy goat cheese).
Survivor Grenache Rosé 2024 is available for purchase via our online shop, tastewine.co.za.
This article originally appeared on Cape Tourism, as part of a collaboration with wine.co.za.