2022 Sadie Family "Columella" Red, Swartland, South Africa

ABOUT THIS WINE

Columella is the flagship red of Sadie Family Wines, named after the ancient Roman agricultural writer Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella—a nod to viticultural tradition and soil-focused philosophy. First released in 2000, it represents Eben Sadie’s ongoing pursuit of balance, purity, and regional expression through a thoughtful, evolving blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre, supported by Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, and Tinta Barocca.

The 2022 vintage was shaped by a relatively mild growing season in the Swartland, marked by moderate temperatures and steady ripening. This allowed for superb phenolic development, precise acidity, and detailed aromatics. Grapes were sourced from dry-farmed, bush-vine parcels planted on granite, schist, quartz, and iron-rich soils across the Paardeberg, Kasteelberg, and Malmesbury zones. All vineyards are farmed sustainably, without irrigation or chemical inputs.

After hand-harvesting, whole clusters were fermented with indigenous yeasts in open concrete fermenters with gentle foot-treading. The wine then matured for 12 months in tight-grain French oak barrels (none new), followed by an additional year of aging in large foudres for integration and refinement. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur.

The result is a red of exceptional complexity and restraint. The 2022 Columella shows lifted aromatics, fine but persistent tannins, and savory depth—more Rhône than New World in style, but unmistakably Swartland in character. It will age gracefully for 15–25 years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Founded in 1999 by Eben Sadie, the Sadie Family Wines has redefined the global perception of South African wine. From the outset, Eben’s mission was to express the complexity of the Swartland through old-vine vineyards, regenerative farming, and minimalist winemaking. His influence has been profound—elevating the region from relative obscurity to international acclaim.

The estate produces two principal wines: Columella (red) and Palladius (white), alongside the Old Vine Series (Ouwingerdreeks), which showcases single-vineyard heritage parcels. All farming is done without irrigation, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, relying on biodiversity and natural balance to sustain the vines.

In the cellar, everything is guided by observation and patience—spontaneous fermentations, gentle extractions, no new oak, and long aging before bottling without fining or filtration. Sadie’s wines are not built for immediacy but for evolution and reflection.

Columella is the embodiment of this philosophy—a wine of discipline, tension, and understated power. It stands not only as one of South Africa’s most important reds but as a reference point for Mediterranean-style wines globally.