2025 Overgaauw Sylvaner

David Snr planted the first Sylvaner at Overgaauw in the 1960s (currently 1 ha). It was bottled in 1971 when most of the local producers were bottling Steen (Chenin Blanc) and Riesling (Cruchen Blanc). The Overgaauw Sylvaner is the only Sylvaner produced in SA. It’s made in small quantities and has a loyal following due to its flavour spectrum and uniqueness. German tourists enjoy tasting ‘their’ varietal in SA and comment that you can “taste the sunshine in the wine”. Restaurants often list it as a unique varietal on their wine lists and are pleasantly surprised at its versatility as a food wine. Contrary to the Sylvaners of Germany, this wine shows great ageing potential. At a 1996 vertical tasting that kicked off with 1971 and moved up to 1996, the best wine was the 23-year-old 1973! Braam van Velden says: “I don’t know what makes this wine age so well, but believe me it lasts!” Through ageing, complex characters develop and the wine becomes as David Biggs put it “astonishing”.

This continental European cultivar has found an unusual home in the Cape, and in a high quality expressive vintage like 2025, this Sylvaner excels with bright lifted aromatics of honeysuckle, white pear, crunchy peach, dried herbs and a talcum like quality. The faint saline, briney nuances continue on the palate where they mix with candied white peach, rock candy notes, pear drops and green apple pastille with a gingerbread hint. Refreshing and delicately exotic, the finish is taut, vibrant and tangy with plenty of mouth-watering refreshing acidity. Drink this Sylvaner young and juicy or over the next 2-3 years as it acquires extra spice. [Greg Sherwood MW, 29/05/2026]