Sushi Set "Cape Meets Tokyo"

Cape meets Tokyo: six white wines, one sushi evening

Sushi calls for wines with freshness, precision and a hint of salt: acidity that carries the rice and fatty fish, fruit that stands up to soy sauce, ginger and wasabi, and barely any tannin. This is where the Cape truly shines, as many of the best white wine vineyards are located just a few kilometres from the sea. This set brings together two Chenin Blancs, two Sauvignon Blancs, a Chardonnay and a biodynamic cuvée from Stellenbosch, the Swartland, the coastal vineyards of Durbanville and Darling, and the Western Cape. From crisp and maritime to creamy and textured, the selection covers everything that might land on the table between sashimi, nigiri and tempura. Ideal for a sushi evening with friends, for trying out the best pairings, or as a gift for anyone who loves wine and Japanese cuisine in equal measure.

The six bottles in the set

• Waterkloof Circle of Life White 2025 Biodynamic cuvée from Schapenberg high above False Bay: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Sémillon, fermented with wild yeasts. Multi-layered, textured, with depth and cool maritime freshness.
• Cape of Good Hope Chenin Blanc Riebeeksrivier 2025 From dry-farmed bush vines (planted in 1988) on the Kasteelberg in the Swartland, from the house of Anthonij Rupert. Quince, peach, vanilla, creamy yet fresh.
• Stellenrust Chenin Blanc B28 Fairtrade 2024 From Block 28, a plot with over 40-year-old bush vines that receive the morning sun above all else, preserving its vibrant acidity. Ripe yellow fruit, apple, peach, fine minerality. Fairtrade certified, the 2024 vintage is one of the winning wines of the Standard Bank Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge 2025.
• Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2025 From selected coastal vineyards in Stellenbosch, Durbanville and Darling, no more than 10 km from the sea. Gooseberry, guava, blackcurrant and a grassy undertone, supported by mineral structure. Consistently vinified reductively for maximum freshness.
• Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc Wild Winds 2025 From the highest vineyards of the over 300-year-old Vergelegen estate on the Schaapenberg, directly above False Bay. The namesake winds keep the vines cool and lend the wine a saline note. Guava, honeydew melon, flinty and taut.
• Barista Chardonnay 2025 From Bertus Fourie, who earned the nickname "Starbucks" with his "Coffee Pinotage". A Chardonnay lightly aged in wood, with citrus, ripe peach, tangerine and a hint of vanilla. The round, luscious counterpoint in the set.

At a glance: 6 x 0.75 l bottles, white wine, South Africa, dry. Best served chilled at 8 to 10 degrees.

Vinification

• Waterkloof Circle of Life White 2025: Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Sémillon (proportions vary by vintage). Biodynamic cultivation, hand-harvested, whole-bunch pressed. Skin fermentation with wild yeasts in 600-litre barrels, several months on the lees. No acid or enzyme additions. Schapenberg, Stellenbosch.
• Cape of Good Hope Chenin Blanc Riebeeksrivier 2025: 100% Chenin Blanc from dry-farmed bush vines (planted in 1988, shale soils). Whole-bunch pressed, partially fermented in stainless steel and partially in French barriques and foudres (proportions vary by vintage). Aged on the fine lees. Riebeeksrivier, Swartland.
• Stellenrust Chenin Blanc B28 Fairtrade 2024: 100% Chenin Blanc from Block 28 (bush vines, over 40 years old, granite-rich soils). One night of skin contact, then transferred to four- to six-year-old French barriques. Five months of spontaneous fermentation with wild yeasts, followed by another two months in the barrel. Stellenbosch.
• Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2025: 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Harvested early in the morning, vinified reductively with dry ice from the vineyard to the tank. At least 12 hours of skin contact, free-run juice only. Fermented in stainless steel at 13 °C, then several months on the lees. Stellenbosch, Durbanville and Darling (Western Cape).
• Vergelegen Sauvignon Blanc Wild Winds 2025: 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the south-facing vineyards of Schaapenberg and Lower Schaapenberg. Hand-harvested over an extended period, destemmed, partially pressed under inert gas and partially oxidatively. Fermented in stainless steel with various yeasts, regular bâtonnage, no biological malolactic fermentation. Stellenbosch (Vergelegen, Somerset West).
• Barista Chardonnay 2025: 100% Chardonnay. One-third fermented in stainless steel for freshness and citrus fruit, the rest partially fermented and aged in predominantly two-beam oak barrels. Several months on the fine lees. Western Cape.

Pairs with: Sashimi, nigiri, maki and California rolls, tempura, gyoza, edamame, poke bowls, ceviche, oysters, prawns, teriyaki salmon and long sushi evenings with friends.