Known as 'Mr Bubbles' in South Africa, Pieter Ferreira has been working on his own range of prestige sparkling wines.
For years and years, Pieter Ferreira was the winemaker at South African sparkling powerhouse Graham Beck. But he and his wife Ann hankered after a smaller project of their own and so they started: “In 2012, we made our first Blanc de Blancs,” says Ann Ferreira. “We only made 2,500 bottles and we still only make 2,500 bottles.” Ann was in London to launch the latest vintage releases, namely the Blanc de Blancs 2016, the Rosé 2015 and the Extra Brut 2017.
“We thought in the Marie Kondo way –‘what would make us happy?’ So we decided only to do the best, the best of the best, and stylistically also what we like.” Ann says. “We are very puristic in style, we love Champagne. we love Blanc de Blancs. We decided on very long lees ageing.” It was not until 2019 that they released their long-aged 2012 debut Blanc de Blancs. Only juice from the first pressing is used and some of the base wines are fermented in wood. The dosage is kept at extra brut level throughout. “We made what we would like to drink.”
As the years progressed, the couple introduced a rosé made from 100% Pinot Noir and then also a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Only 2,500 bottles are made of each of the three wines. The Blanc de Blancs and the Rosé age on lees for a minimum of six years. Their first release of the Rosé was the 2013 vintage in 2020. Now there also is a cuvée which is simply called extra brut, a blend of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
“What differentiates us in South Africa is the sunshine,” Ann says as she talks about applying all the finest methods and most careful handling to the wines made in this tiny boutique project. “As much as we are purists, and Champagne is the holy grail, we want to make the most elegant wine we can,” she says about the very different climatic conditions in South Africa. And this is what she and Pieter have achieved with this project: a really fine and world class traditional method sparkling wine – a South African Cap Classique – that expresses all the ripeness of South Africa with the most refinement and elegance I have hitherto tasted in a Cap Classique. Bravo.
