Each bottle within this unique collection tells the story of Waterford Estate's deep commitment to understanding terroir, varietals, and blending techniques – factors that have shaped the estate’s identity and its exceptional, award-winning wines.
The Library Collection showcases Waterford Estate's learning journey, from early vineyard plantings and fermentation trials to implementing innovative winemaking techniques like using concrete eggs. These experiments have elevated our creations, resulting in the celebrated blend of The Jem, our flagship red blend.
Through the Library Collection, we can tell the story that reveals how certain wines within our portfolio came to be, how others were refined and how we have grown in our understanding of our terroir.
One of these stories is that of the Estate Sauvignon Blanc vineyard. Originally planted before Waterford Estate’s founding, these vineyards laid the foundation for the estate’s deep understanding of the region’s terroir.
In 2019, after crafting wine from these vineyards for over 15 years we decided to remove the surviving Sauvignon Blanc vines to make way for Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vineyards, both varietals well-suited to Stellenbosch’s climate with Cabernet Sauvignon being the king varietal on the Helderberg Mountain. This is a decision that intertwines tradition with progression, providing a window into our respect for heritage and commitment to future growth and quality.
The lineage and legacy of Sauvignon Blanc as a foundational “parent” to Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Cabernet Franc speaks to the history and growth of the noble varietal in Cabernet Sauvignon and our respect for the cultivar.
In this chapter of discussion about our white wine exploration, key wines have played a pivotal role in shaping our legacy.
Among them is the 2009 BW or Bordeaux White, a Sauvignon Blanc focused wine that saw the first extended lees ageing for Sauvignon Blanc in our cellar. The extended lees ageing gave the wine structure and texture in the palate making it the ideal pairing white for bolder fish dishes.
In 2013 we sourced Riesling grapes from a vineyard in the Elgin region. A bit of harmless fun in the cellar that impressed the team with their ability to adapt – a strength every South African winemaker must have when working with the varying vintages of the Cape Winelands.
The 2015 Grenache Blanc was an experimentation with different cultivars that helped to ignite our passion for diverse varieties and the character they embody.
This leads us to our Sauvignon Blanc vineyard, with hard-earned knowledge through experimentation we were able to craft a wine that honours our historic terroir.
The Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2014 serves as a tangible symbol of this journey, standing at ten years old the wine still showcases a refreshing body with vibrant yet mature fruit characteristics showing us all that even Sauvignon blanc can age gracefully if crafted with care.
The Library Collection stands as a testament to our heritage and our dedication to crafting wines that embody both tradition and innovation. Our story is one of progress, learning, and mastery – growing not only our understanding of South African wine but aiming to grow the international wine enthusiasts understanding of South African wine.