We are extremely happy to share with you the latest release of Intellego wines. Winemaker Jurgen Gouws has a soft spot for natural wine and this release is no different. If you know his wines at all, you’ll know they each come with a unique story and playful labels to match.

Jurgen favours a natural approach – think organic farming and minimal intervention (no yeast, acid, enzymes or fining; limited sulphur and filtration) in the cellar. He currently makes his wines at Annex Kloof in the Paardeberg, capturing the essence of the Swartland region with its flat, dry terrain and shale and granitic soils.

All of the labels and names of the Intellego wines are connected to stories about Jurgen’s life and his love for the Swartland.

The Chenin Blanc remains an excellent 2022, released last year. Bottle age has enhanced this wine, making it more intense and serious than ever. The Chenin Blanc and Syrah are the cornerstone wines of the Intellego range, the starting point of Jurgen’s winemaking journey. Their labels match in different colors, indicating when to drink them: Enjoy the Chenin Blanc in summer and the Syrah in winter.

The Syrah has changed vineyards – from Paardeberg Granite to Abbostdale Koffieklip – and thus the style has changed. The 2022 is much more red fruited and open than the dark, spicy 2021. Although with some air that characteristic black olive and caper berry savouriness starts to appear.

The Story of Harry continues to be a blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. A portion of the Chenin undergoes skin contact, while the Chardonnay is picked slightly early for added freshness. It’s an ideal introduction to skin-contact whites for those seeking something new. Harry is a fictional character and a local vineyard worker. Like other locals, Harry dries his laundry on the farm fences, brightening the Swartland with colorful clothes.

Elementis and The Sleeping Co-Pilot are Intellego’s signature wines, both excelling in 2023. Elementis is serious, long and elegant, while The Sleeping Co-Pilot remains wild and expressive, with finer tannins than in 2022. “Elementis” is the Latin word encompassing the four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. The label references these elements through symbols: red for fire, yellow for water, green for earth, and blue for air. In contrast, The Sleeping Co-Pilot’s label is more humorous. A few years ago, Jurgen had a Swiss intern who, like many wine enthusiasts visiting the Cape, enjoyed a late night. The grapes for The Sleeping Co-Pilot come from Abbotsdale, a short drive away. One morning, Jurgen asked the intern to accompany him to fetch the grapes. The intern’s sole purpose was to keep Jurgen company, but within five minutes, Jurgen discovered the young man was fast asleep in the passenger seat. Hence, the name “The Sleeping Co-Pilot.”

The Pink Moustache is a light, refreshing, and fun wine. It’s made from organically grown fruit and is perfect for summer enjoyment by the pool. While not technically a rosé, it has more tannin and depth than most blanc de noirs. The label reflects Jurgen’s thoughts on wine styles, associating white wines with a clean-shaven face and red wines with a beard. The Pink Moustache falls somewhere in between.

The Kedungu is still the 2022 – lovely cranberry and cherry fruit and brambly tannin. It is probably the funkiest of the set – so go hard if you dig that side of wine. Jurgen is a bit of a surfer dude(just a bit, not the ‘those are some gnarly waves’ kind) he describes this little beach where he was enjoying a good surf as bringing him peace, zen, calmness, balance, this beach was called Kedungu. And the only other time he’s experienced that feeling was when he tried this wine for the first time.

**Free Delivery & 5% Discount

2 x Intellego Chenin Blanc 2022
2 x Intellego ‘The Story of Harry’ 2023
1 x Intellego ‘Elementis’ 2023
1 x Intellego ‘The Sleeping Co-Pilot’ 2023
2 x Intellego ‘The Pink Moustache’ 2024
2 x Intellego ‘Kedungu’ 2022
2 x Intellego Syrah 2022

W.O. Swartland | 100% Chenin Blanc
Paardeberg | Granite
Planted in 2002 | Dry farm bush vines
East-northeast facing slope
Direct press into 2500L old Foudre.  Aged on the gross lees for 12 months before bottling.
Alc: 13%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

“Released last year, time in bottle has done this wine good, the mid-palate having filled out. Pear, peach, soft citrus, hay and some yeasty complexity on the nose. Medium bodied with moderate acidity, pleasantly smooth textured, the finish gently savoury. 92/100.”

W.O. Swartland | 69% Chenin Blanc, 31% Chardonnay
Paardeberg | Granite
Planted in 2002 & 1999 | Dry farm bush vines
East & Southwest facing slopes
40% of the Chenin Blanc fermented on the skins for 7 days destemmed. Pressed and aged in combination of old 500L French Oak barrels and Foudre for 11 months.
The Chardonnay fermented and aged in old 228L French Oak barrels for 10 months.
Alc: 12%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

“Pale orange in colour. The nose is rather neutral but subtle notes of pear, lemon and orange plus some smoky reduction can be detected. Light bodied with bright acidity and a finish that is pithy in texture and salty in flavour. Well balanced. 92/100.”

W.O. Swartland | 100% Chenin Blanc
Abbotsdale | Koffieklip
Planted in 1988 | Dry farm bush vines
East-facing slope
Fermented on the skins for 14 days destemmed. Aged in old 500L French Oak barrels for 11 months.
Alc: 11%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

“Gorgeous aromatics of potpourri, apple and citrus while the palate has great fruit density, snappy acidity and a super-dry finish. Clearly defined, both aromatically and flavour-wise. Goosebumps inducing. All that’s good about orange wine. 96/100.”

W.O. Swartland | 100% Viognier
Kasteelsig  | Quartz
Planted in 2004 | Dry farm trellis
Northeast-facing slope
Whole bunch fermented for 14 days. Aged in old 500L French Oak barrels for 11 months.
Alc: 12%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

“Peach, apricot, orange, honeysuckle, fynbos and a faint petrol-like note. The palate shows dense fruit, tart acidity and a grippy, bone-dry finish. Highly unconventional but impossible to ignore… 91/100.”

W.O. Swartland | 48% Cinsaut, 35% Syrah, 17% Mourvedre
Abbotsdale & Paardeberg  | Alluvial & Granite
Planted in early 2000s | Dry farm bush vines
North and east facing slopes
The Cinsaut was whole bunch fermented for 4 days. The Syrah and Mourvedre were direct pressed and aged in barrel for 5 months.  The wine was blended after 5 months and another 2 weeks in stainless steel before bottled.
Alc: 12.5%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

“Pale red in colour. Cherry, strawberry, red apple, candyfloss and fynbos on the nose. The palate is fruit and fresh, the finish slightly salty.”

W.O. Swartland | 46% Mourvedre, 24% Cinsaut, 18% Syrah, 12% Pinotage
Abbotsdale, Paardeberg & Riebeek  | Alluvial, Granite & Quartz
Planted between 1988 and 2009 | Dry farm bush vines
Mostly south-facing slopes
Fermented whole bunch under semi carbonic conditions for 8 days. Aged in old 228L & 500L French Oak barrels for 10 months.
Alc: 11.5%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

(note from original release in 2023) “Cranberry, cherry and plum plus fynbos and a hint of white pepper and other spice on the nose. The palate is again light with pure fruit, vibrant acidity and powdery tannins. Gouws says it’s “Beaujolais inspired” and that makes sense – completely charming. 91/100.”

W.O. Swartland | 100% Syrah
Abbotsdale | Koffieklip
Planted in 2002 | Dry farm bush vines
Northeast-facing slopes
Fermented whole bunch under semi carbonic conditions for 10 days. Aged in old 500L French Oak barrels for 11 months.
Alc: 12.5%

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:

“Red and black berries, olive, cured meat, earth and white pepper on the nose. The palate is light-bodied with moderate acidity and soft tannins, the finish gently savoury. Readily accessible. 92/100.”