Cinsault Blossom Steward 2025 Aurelien Petit

Aurélien Petit's Cinsault Blossom Steward 2025 is a light, floral South African red, bright with fruit, made by a French winemaker settled in the Swartland. Sourced from old Cinsault vines, it offers a silky, easy drinking wine of great freshness. A cuvée for immediate pleasure, best served slightly chilled.

Terroir and vineyards
Over the past twenty years, the Swartland, north of Cape Town, has become the most dynamic wine region in South Africa. Cinsault has deep roots here: long forgotten, it is now being championed by a new generation of winemakers who reveal the finesse of its old vines. Trained as bush vines and dry farmed, they grow on poor soils of granite, schist and clay. The hot climate is softened by Atlantic breezes. Harvest is by hand, and vinification is carried out with minimal intervention to preserve the purity of the fruit.

Tasting profile
The colour is light, translucent ruby. The nose opens on cherry, raspberry and redcurrant, with notes of rose, peony and a touch of gentle spice. The palate is light and silky, carried by very fine tannins and lively acidity. The finish is fresh, floral and thirst quenching. A wine to drink now and over the next two to three years.

The estate
Aurélien Petit is a French winemaker who settled in South Africa. There he works old Swartland vines with a very respectful approach, without superfluous inputs and with minimal intervention in the cellar. His cuvées, much sought after by independent merchants and sommeliers, show another facet of South African wine: pure, taut and lively wines, shaped by his perspective as a French vigneron.

Food and wine pairing
Serve between 13 and 14 °C. It pairs beautifully with a platter of charcuterie, a country terrine, roast chicken, grilled skewers, pizza or lightly spiced Asian cuisine. It also goes very well with seared tuna or grilled salmon.