A PROJECT BORN
OUT OF FRIENDSHIP AND PASSION
The Torero Wine Co. project came about through two great friendships and a relentless and all-consuming passion surrounding wine. Ian Naudé serves as the proverbial spark and Angus Paul as the fuel. The first vintage began in 2021 with only Carignan and grew into the ternary of Carignan, Syrah and Verdelho from 2023.
Vineyards – High Altitude
We work with three different farms and three different vineyards. All the vineyards are above 300 meters of sea level, one of which lies in Wellington, at the foot of the Limietberg, one in the Groenekloof and the last lies in the Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch.
Winemaking – Low Intervention
From the start, we have had a clear and concise vision – create wines that exude purity and express the terroir of their grapes. Every bottle of Torero is an ode to the grandeur of our vineyards. We’re proud to assert that our winemaking process involves minimal intervention, spontaneous ferments, and delicate extraction.
Vineyards – High Altitude
We work with three different farms and three different vineyards. All the vineyards are above 300 meters of sea level, one of which lies in Wellington, at the foot of the Limietberg, one in the Groenekloof and the last lies in the Polkadraai Hills in Stellenbosch.
Winemaking – Low Intervention
From the start, we have had a clear and concise vision – create wines that exude purity and express the terroir of their grapes. Every bottle of Torero is an ode to the grandeur of our vineyards. We’re proud to assert that our winemaking process involves minimal intervention, spontaneous ferments, and delicate extraction.
Torero and The OXEN OF THE SUN
VERDELHO 2023
The vineyard is located on Papkuilsfontein in Groenekloof. The vineyard is tiny – only 0.3 hectares planted in 2001 with incredibly low-yielding vines. The entire crop is taken. The vineyard is visibly rich in red iron granite soils, 150m above sea level, 12km from the ocean, constantly buffered by a cool ocean breeze. Allowing for both freshness and power in the fruit.
100% Verdelho, 100% whole bunch pressed. Handpicked, foot trod and gently extracted. 10 months in 228L French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in December 2023. The wine is pure, saline and hyper-expressive – dominated by delicate white fruits, elderflower, lilies of the valley, and pithy minerality.
Torero and The Suit of Lights
Carignan 2023
Twenty-four-year-old Carignan bush vines nestled at the foot of the Limietberg on ancient, decomposed granite and clay soils composed of quartz, feldspar and mica 320 meters above the sea.
100% Carignan, 100% whole bunch. Handpicked, foot trod and gently extracted. 10 months in 228L French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in December 2023. The wine is pure, powerful and hyper-expressive – dominated by wild red fruits, rosemary, thyme, sanguine and fresh soil.
Torero and Pasiphaë
Syrah 2023
Drawn from a gorgeous vineyard on the Polkadraai Hills. A Karibib vineyard renowned for producing pure, honest and complex Syrah comes – Pasiphaë.
100% Syrah, 100% whole bunch, foot trod and gently extracted. 10 months in 500L French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in December 2023. Pasiphaë is delicate and focused, dominated by brooding red fruits, a savoury intensity and pepper.