4G Wines
G. is set to become the Premier Cru or First Growth of the Cape – THE iconic wine of South Africa. Not because it builds on centuries of tradition and history – but the exact opposite, in fact.
4G Wines emerged from a mad idea of two oenophile friends who believed it must be possible to create an iconic wine, even without a professional background. One of which, Philipp Gerhard Axt, was enthralled – or downright obsessed – with the idea, and developed it further with tenacity, meticulousness, passion, savvy, and an entrepreneurial spirit. Two more friends joined subsequently: Giorgio Dalla Cia and Sohn Georges of the Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. All four have names containing the letter G.
Red wines from 4G Wines
from 4G Wines
The project’s purpose was clear from the very beginning: to press the very first Premier Cru and the primordial iconic wine of South Africa. A wine that could measure up to the great wines of the world.
Numerous international comparative tastings have shown G. to be close, or already part of the top echelon. 2010 was the first vintage of the Bordeaux blend with Syrah, which may vary in its composition for each vintage. In 2011, none other than Denis Dubourdieu, professor at the University of Bordeaux and consultant to some of the best wine producers of the world, assumed responsibility for the project, alongside his longstanding associate Dr Valérie Lavigne.
Nothing is left to chance for the work in the cellar and vineyard. A highly qualified team carries out the actual precision work in the leased parcels - "precision viticulture". There are about fifteen different vineyards, some of which are only a few rows in size, spread over the entire Western Cape. The selection of the grapes is one of the biggest success factors. Each grape berry is checked before it enters the fermentation vat.
Philipp G. Axt is only satisfied with the very best, also in the selection of barrels, when buying the best corks, with the specially made bottle, the wooden crates from Ghana, the labels designed by the up-and-coming Berlin artist Sebastian Blinde, etc. He does not have his own cellar built by a star architect. In the simple, rented building, the flagship G. and his little brother THE ECHO OF G. mature towards their destiny: to show the world of wine that there are also wines to be found on the Cape that can be ranked among the world's best.
Producer
Maria Casanovas
The Bodega or Cava Maria Casanovas is located in the heart of the Penedès, in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, the centre of Cava production. It is owned by the Casanovas family and managed by three children of Maria Casanovas. Jordi and Jacint are responsible for the vineyards and the cellar, Rosa for administration and marketing.
Massena / Jaysen Collins
Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins were college friends, and in the late 1990s they decided to put their talents together to produce wine. Recently, Jaysen Collins has taken charge of the "Massena" project on his own.The grapes are purchased from growers in Greenock, Kalimna and Koonunga Hill in the northwest Barossa Valley.
Domaine Laurent Perrachon & Fils
Since 1877 the family's own vineyards have been cultivated by the 5th and 6th generation.