First Sighting is an exciting first purchase for us – a wine from the most southerly vineyard in all South Africa. It comes from the Strandveld winery, founded in 2001 by a group of wine loving friends. They had read about the travels of ancient mariners (the Portuguese Bartolomeu Dias in particular) and, inspired by the coastal descriptions, sought out a site near the ocean to plant vineyards and make their own wine. That location was Elim, close to Cape Agulhas, where unique soils and a cool climate really intensify the flavour of the grapes by ripening them oh so slowly. Made by Conrad Vlok, this white has an impressive medal winning history. It’s delightful served solo or with grilled sole or spicy Thai cuisine.
