Warwick Estate
Warwick Estate is a family-owned and run winery. Managing Director Michael Ratcliffe is the 3rd generation family member to oversee this high quality boutique operation that has been lauded globally for excellence and consistency. Mike is passionately involved in many aspects of the South African and global wine industry and has held senior leadership positions in industry bodies.
From 1771 til 1902, Warwick Wine Farm was known as the farm ‘De Goede Sukses’. After the Anglo Boer war in 1902, Colonel William Alexander Gordon, Commanding Officer of the Warwickshire regiment decided against returning to England and bought the farm. He renamed it ‘Warwick’ as a tribute to his regiment and the rest, as they say, is history.
Warwick was purchased on April 1st 1964 by Stan Ratcliffe after an extensive search for the best ‘terroir’ in the Cape. Together with his new bride Norma , they soon realized the potential of the extraordinary property and began planting Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon vines produced high quality grapes, which were soon in demand from neighbouring wineries. Norma became more and more interested in the making of wine and began to study the subject. Soon a cellar was in place and in 1984 the first ‘legal’ Warwick vintage was released (a Cabernet Sauvignon). It seemed Norma had the talent for making great wines and production soon increased.
In 1986 Warwick Trilogy was releases, a Bordeaux style blend which has since became one of the flagships of the South African Wine Industry.
Our comment: The Warwick Estate Chardonnay has fooled many wine tasters into thinking it is a Grand Cru white Burgundy. This well balanced, fresh and vibrant Chardonnay is excellent, and it has a lovely finish with well integrated oak and subtle minerality - highly recommended.
Wines by this Producer
- Warwick Estate Trilogy (Case of Magnums) 2008
- Warwick Estate 'Three Cape Ladies' 2008
- Warwick Estate Trilogy 2008
- Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc, Warwick Estate 2010
- Warwick Estate Chardonnay 2009
- Warwick Estate Trilogy [OUT OF STOCK]
- Warwick Estate Trilogy (Single Jeroboam) [OUT OF STOCK]
- Warwick Estate Old Bush Vines Pinotage 2009
