Fryer’s Cove, situated in the Bamboes Bay ward on the Cape West Coast, has solidified its reputation as one of South Africa’s most unique producers of Sauvignon Blanc, receiving exceptional ratings in the latest Tim Atkin South Africa Report. The 2022 Hollebaksstrandfontein Bamboes Bay Sauvignon Blanc from Fryer’s Cove earned an impressive 94-point rating, while the Fryer’s Cove Bamboes Bay Sauvignon Blanc secured a commendable 93 points from Atkin. Additionally, their Fryer’s Cove Grenache/Cinsault 2022 from the red wine selection earned a respectable 90 points.
This year marks the 11th edition of Tim Atkin’s South Africa Report, and his contributions as a Master of Wine and a leading wine critic have significantly elevated the Cape wine industry’s status.
Liza Goodwin, the Winemaker and General Manager, explained, “Fryer’s Cove founders Jan Ponk van Zyl and Wynand Hamman ventured into uncharted territory by planting Sauvignon Blanc vineyards just 500 meters from the ocean. By establishing the Fryer’s Cove winery within an old fish factory on the seashore, Fryer’s Cove not only gained recognition for its distinctive wines but also became one of the most uniquely situated wineries globally.”
Bamboes Bay boasts six hectares of Sauvignon Blanc vines, typically harvested during the first and second weeks of March. The grapes undergo destemming and crushing, followed by an overnight skin-contact period in tanks. Afterward, the free-run juice is separated and allowed to settle for two days. The juice is divided into three portions, with one portion aging in 400-liter oak barrels, and the other two in 500-liter ceramic pots and stainless-steel containers. The wine in oak barrels undergoes a spontaneous fermentation, while the wine in ceramic pots and tanks is inoculated with selected yeasts.
“Much has been said about Fryer’s Cove’s remote location in the secluded West Coast village of Doring Bay,” adds Goodwin. “However, as a winery, our primary focus is on the distinctive quality of Fryer’s Cove Sauvignon Blanc. The unique combination of red soils and the vineyards’ proximity to the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean truly allows us to craft a premium Sauvignon Blanc with a distinctive style, as evidenced by Tim Atkin’s impressive ratings for our wines.”
