Lismore: 'some of the Cape’s finest wines'

'Under her Lismore label, O'Keefe is producing some of the Cape’s finest wines.' - Neal Martin, vinous.com

In the early 2000s, Californian Samantha O'Keefe bought an abandoned dairy in Greyton in the Western Cape, and began planting vines. At the time, the nearest vineyards were 50km away. Fast forward: Greyton is now a ward in the South African wine classification system, Samantha has been inducted into the Cape Winemakers' Guild (a privilege only offered to winemakers who have been responsible for the production of outstanding wines for at least five years), and Lismore is comfortably established in the front rank of South African producers.

What Samantha spotted very early on is that Greyton is an unusually cool area by South African standards. It sees snow in winter and the cooling Cape Doctor wind through the growing season.  Grapes here can ripen up to a month later than those in Stellenbosch. It makes ideal territory for Burgundy and Rhône varieties.

As Jim Clarke writes in The Wines of South Africa, the Lismore wines 'exemplify a South African capacity for textured, dense wines that remain nonetheless nimble and fresh'. The Syrah is bursting with juicy cassis and black olive, the Pinot is juicy and supple. The Chardonnays are all orchard fruit and lemon, with the Reserve Chardonnay in particular outstanding for its elegance and energy. The barrel aged Sauvignon Blanc is very much about texture - Sam says she was inspired to make it by a bottle of Didier Dageneau. And she succeeds time and again with Viognier. Neal Martin calls her 2023 Estate Reserve Viognier 'sensational... an outstanding expression of this fickle grape variety.' /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines due to arrive imminently. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998