Journey's End Vineyards Launches Sustainable Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc

The award-winning Journey's End Vineyards, which is based in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is pleased  to announce the launch of its Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc 2021. 

This fresh and crispy, white wine is so named in honour the vineyard's latest green project, the planting of a spekboom thicket on the farm.

It will retail at £10 per bottle and should already be available at Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Since the Gabb family founded Journey's End in 1996 by the Gabb family, it has always beenat the forefront of ecological, sustainable and ethically wine production. 

It makes gorgeous wines for all occasions. And Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc is no exception to this rule. 

Made using 100% sustainably sourced Sauvignon Blanc grapes, the vine's location also influences the flavour profile of the wine. Typical of coastal wine growing regions, the vineyards benefit from the cleansing and cooling winds which help the grapes retain their fresh, clean and elegant fruit flavours.

Winemaker, Leon Esterhuizen, said: "The first thing you notice will be the intense aroma of the wine; winter melon, green apple and a lovely subtle citrus, there are also some herbal and green fig notes in the background. These flavours follow on the palate and are supported by a vibrant, fresh acidity and an elegant mouthfeel."

The wine's namesake, spekboom (Portulacaria afra and also known as 'Elephant Bush'), is a succulent native to South Africa, widely considered to be a 'wonder plant' due to its impressive abilities to absorb carbon dioxide relative to its low water consumption. One hectare of mature spekboom thicket can remove up to 15 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, about 7.5 times more than mature woodland.

Because natural seedlings are somewhat rare, restoration of thickets requires active replanting. As part of Journey's End Vineyard's continued promise to reduce overall carbon emissions, the company has planted over 6,000 spekboom in open areas of the farm since September 2021.

This green initiative contributed to the vineyard becoming carbon negative, as well as being recognised in The Drinks Business Green Awards 2021 as the winner of both the Ethical Company award and Water Management award. This was the second year running that Journey's End was named Ethical Company, after receiving the award at The Drinks Business Green Awards 2020, too.

Managing Director, Rollo Gabb, adds, "We're really pleased to be launching our Spekboom Sauvignon Blanc with Sainsbury's. As ever, our commitment to creating more sustainable projects on the farm continues – and we felt that the recent planting of 6,000 remarkable spekboom plants warranted a wine named in its honour. We hope you enjoy it!'

Wine Buyer for Sainsbury's, Georgina Haughton, says "We're thrilled to be introducing Spekboom into our range, offering our customers the opportunity to explore a unique South African Sauvignon Blanc, and one with great sustainability credentials. This Sauvignon Blanc from renowned Journey's End bolsters our already strong range from South Africa. Perfect as we near Spring, we're sure this new white is going to be a hit."