Shannon Vineyards
Elgin / Walker Bay, South Africa
At Shannon Vineyards, our focus on viticulture principles reflects our commitment to winemaking as an expression of terroir. Making fine wines is our ongoing aspiration, and to that end we have assembled a talented team who share our passion.
The cool climate at Shannon Vineyards is symbolised by the cold morning mist rising from the Palmiet River which is expressed by the swirling design of our logo.
Our grapes come from exceptional mountain hillside vineyards along the Palmiet River in the Elgin Valley. These unique vineyard sites, combined with the highly experienced viticultural team of Kevin Watt and James Downes, and a winemaking philosophy of minimal intervention followed by the winemakers Gordon Johnson and Nadia Cilliers, produce wines with distinctive personalities. Each wine has a sense of place. They are seductive and memorable for their complexity, structure and elegance.
The Elgin Valley has long been regarded as the pear and apple centre of South Africa, and now has South Africa's most highly regarded winemakers establishing vineyards in the area, testament to its obvious winemaking potential.
James and Stuart are passionate about maximising the potential of the Elgin Valley and South Africa through the wines of Shannon Vineyards.
Shannon Vineyards, established in the year 2000 is situated in the Elgin Valley within the Kogelberg Biosphere with mountains on our western boundary and the Palmiet River forming the eastern boundary. The Elgin Valley which has long been regarded as the apple and pear centre of South Africa, now has some of the country's most highly regarded winemakers establishing vineyards in the area, testament to its obvious winemaking potential.
We focus on viticulture principles in order to reflect our commitment to winemaking as an expression of terroir. Technological surveys ensured that the correct grape variety, clone and rootstock combination was planted in the diverse ancient soil types. The vineyards benefit from the high altitude cool temperatures, as well as an abundant rainfall throughout the year and the prevailing cold summer wind, known as the "Black South-Easter" blowing in from the ocean 12 kilometres away. Viticulture practices and canopy management which enhance longer ripening periods capture in the wines, the broad spectrum of flavours created in the cool climate of our unique terroir!
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Gordon and Nadia Newton Johnson
Gordon and Nadia Newton Johnson are the husband-and-wife winemaking team with the experience of over 30 harvests between them. Both graduates from the University of Stellenbosch, Gordon took over the winemaking reins at Newton Johnson in 2000 after a few years of overseas harvest stints that included California, New Zealand, and France. His love for Pinot Noir was immersed in the surroundings of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. As well as having worked with grapes from Shannon Vineyards in the Elgin Valley from 2003 it was obvious that Gordon would be put in charge to oversee the winemaking from the first Pinot Noir Shannon Vineyards vintage in 2007. Gordon’s vast knowledge and experience with Pinot Noir has nurtured the Shannon Pinot Noir into a very exciting multi-layered and complex style from the Elgin Valley. Nadia joined Gordon in 2006 from similar cool climate surroundings in the Constantia Valley, also after a couple of harvests in California and Australia. Having worked with Merlot in Constantia Nadia’s experience of this variety provided great insight and guidance in establishing the Mount Bullet Merlot’s hugely successful reputation. Together they both worked with the Sauvignon Blanc since its inception from the 2008 vintage and again have successfully created a masterpiece.
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