The soil and climate of Croydon makes it ideal for the production of red wines of outstanding quality. The layered clay soil with its rocky topsoil and the cool sea climate reminds me of Bordeaux which is one of the most distinguished regions in the world for the production of top quality red blends.We aim to concentrate on Cape blends at Croydon and I hope that the name Croydon will be as world-renowned one day as Bordeaux.
For our Cape blend we will use Pinotage, our very own South African variety, as the basis, together with varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Shiraz. From these components we will endeavour to make a wine which is as balanced and classic as the distinguished Burgundy, with a bouquet of pepper and spice unique to the wines of the Rhône Valley but which will have our own distinctive purple fruity character.
A complex blend that could be aged successfully for years, but that could equally well be enjoyed as a young wine. We shall have to experiment for at least another ten years before we have enough understanding of the vines at Croydon to know precisely what percentage of each grape variety to use, the type of oak, how long the wine should be in wood, how long on the skins and at what temperature the wine should be made. We look forward to a gratifying time of experimentation for everyone at Croydon.
Beyers Truter.
