Crystallum is a small Hemel-en-Aarde winery, established in 2007 by brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson. Their father Peter was a pioneer in the production of cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at Bouchard Finlayson, so after university, it seemed only natural for the brothers to return home and source fruit from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley to create their own label. Today, Crystallum is one of South Africa’s most highly regarded wineries and is at the forefront of the ‘New Wave’ movement. In 2021 Peter-Allan was named Tim Atkin MW’s ‘South African Winemaker of the Year’. He is always on the lookout for new vineyards and with each vintage he strives to make even better wines. The winemaking at Crystallum has evolved over the years, with all the wines now fermented with indigenous yeasts and the use of new oak reduced to preserve the purity of fruit.
The Ferrum Chardonnay is sourced from Crystallum’s latest site, situated at 220 metres above sea level in the Shaw’s Mountain area of the Overberg. The site mirrors the terroir in Hemel-en-Aarde while not technically falling within the region. The climate is marginally more moderate than nearby Kerksaal, being closer to the coast. The wine’s name is derived from the iron rich shale soils which naturally restrict vigour while allowing for optimum fruit development. Altitude and cooling sea breezes slow down the grape ripening process, resulting in grapes with excellent concentration of flavour balanced by a vibrant acidity.
