Congratualations to Nomoya Vermentino 2021 Vintage who received a Gold Award at the Gilbert & Gaillard Awards 2022 for the Dry White Whine Catergory
Here is a bit of a back story regarding why they decided to plant this Amazing Varietal in South Africa.
The introduction of Vermentino from a Sardinian clone, into South Africa, is the brainchild of Attilio and Michela Dalpiaz, an Italian couple who fell in love with the Western Cape and relocated to South Africa 18 years ago. They wanted something to connect their new homeland with the culture and traditions of Italy. To this end, they invited Italian agronomist Augusto Fabbro to come out to South Africa in 2007 to study SA terroir.
The climate of the Paardeberg/Swartland region is particularly suited to Mediterranean style wines and thus Vermentino was identified as the most likely candidate.
The Swartland/Perdeberg regions are a warm growing climate region. Prevailing winds from the West Coast keep the vineyard cool during the summer, allowing for aeration in the canopy and air flow through the bunches, preventing fungus from developing. The soil is made up of disintegrated granite and mostly clay materials, which are favours the growing conditions of the Vermentino variety.
Vermentino is a medium-to-late ripening cultivar that enjoys a hot climate accompanied by lots of sunshine, making conditions perfect for this Mediterranean cultivar
There followed six years of import permissions, quarantine approvals and propagation before the very first Vermentino vines could be planted in 2014.
Just like human beings, it also takes vines a while before adapting to new surroundings. There is always the risk of rejection. Looking back at the success of the Vermentinos growth and development, we were happy to find that instead of rejecting its’ new home, it actually thrived.
On Sawis 2021 records, Vermentino plantings are just over a total of 30ha. A variety, which definitively has a starring future in South Africa.”
