4G Wines
G. is set to become the Premier Cru or First Growth of the Cape – THE iconic wine of South Africa. Not because it builds on centuries of tradition and history – but the exact opposite, in fact.
4G Wines emerged from a mad idea of two oenophile friends who believed it must be possible to create an iconic wine, even without a professional background. One of which, Philipp Gerhard Axt, was enthralled – or downright obsessed – with the idea, and developed it further with tenacity, meticulousness, passion, savvy, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Two more friends joined subsequently: Giorgio Dalla Cia and Sohn Georges of the Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. All four have names containing the letter G.
Red wines from 4G Wines
from 4G Wines
The project’s purpose was clear from the very beginning: to press the very first Premier Cru and the primordial iconic wine of South Africa. A wine that could measure up to the great wines of the world.
Numerous international comparative tastings have shown G. to be close, or already part of the top echelon. 2010 was the first vintage of the Bordeaux blend with Syrah, which may vary in its composition for each vintage. In 2011, none other than Denis Dubourdieu, professor at the University of Bordeaux and consultant to some of the best wine producers of the world, assumed responsibility for the project, alongside his longstanding associate Dr Valérie Lavigne.
Nothing is left to chance for the work in the cellar and vineyard. A highly qualified team carries out the actual precision work in the leased parcels - "precision viticulture". There are about fifteen different vineyards, some of which are only a few rows in size, spread over the entire Western Cape. The selection of the grapes is one of the biggest success factors. Each grape berry is checked before it enters the fermentation vat.
Philipp G. Axt is only satisfied with the very best, also in the selection of barrels, when buying the best corks, with the specially made bottle, the wooden crates from Ghana, the labels designed by the up-and-coming Berlin artist Sebastian Blinde, etc. He does not have his own cellar built by a star architect. In the simple, rented building, the flagship G. and his little brother THE ECHO OF G. mature towards their destiny: to show the world of wine that there are also wines to be found on the Cape that can be ranked among the world's best.
Producer
Bodegas Ribas
We could talk about our winery of the year, Bodega Ribas on Mallorca, all day long. But it's best to see and read for yourself! We sent wine journalist Britta Wiegelmann and cameraman Felix Groteloh to experience the winery and the family at first hand. Araceli and Javier Servera Ribas, the brother and sister team behind the wines, tell us how the oldest existing winery on the island survived phylloxera, why they love their local grape, the Mantonegro, so much and what the sea has to do with it all.
Montepeloso
The Montepeloso winery, located in Maremma, owned by Swiss co-proprietor and estate manager Fabio Chiarelotto, has earned a reputation for outstanding red wines. With a combination of mostly traditional and indigenous grape varieties, but also international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, complex wines with a Mediterranean character are produced. This Tuscan gem is hidden in the hills of Suvereto, near the Tyrrhenian coast — one of the hottest areas of Tuscany.
G. & J. Guillerault / Sebastian Fargette
Gilles Guillerault and Sébastien Fargette are based in Crézancy-en-Sancerre, a few kilometres west of Sancerre, in the Centre-Loire region. A lovely hilly landscape where vineyards alternate with charming villages. With around 2400 hectares of vineyards, Sancerre is a rather small wine-growing region. Only two grape varieties are cultivated, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.