Producer · Cape South Coast, South Africa

Crystallum

Crystallum is a small winery in South Africa's Hemel-en-Aarde. Brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson started it in 2007, following their father Peter, who was an early champion of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from cooler spots in the area.

Hemel-en-Aarde means 'heaven on earth' in Afrikaans. It looks over Walker Bay, and the sea air and height suit Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The soils are very old: shale, granite and sandstone. Peter-Allan is always looking for new sites, including a cool vineyard at 700 metres in Elandskloof.

These days every wine is fermented with wild yeasts, and they use less new oak, so the fruit comes through clearly. In 2021 Tim Atkin MW named Peter-Allan South African Winemaker of the Year.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay · £27.99 to £30.99 a bottle