“Pinot Gris is a colour mutation of Pinot Noir…the berry colour is very variable and much darker than that of most white grapes, from pinky purple to almost as dark as point noir.”
– Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, José Vouillamoz
Craven Pinot Gris 2020
We are very pleased to announce the return of an Ex Animo Wine Co. favourite: the skin-fermented Craven Pinot Gris. Copper-coloured, uber-aromatic, super-refreshing and straight-up delicious.
In the words of Mick & Jeanine Craven:
“Pinot Gris is something we have a lot of fun working with. Although a lot of the wine drinking world think and assume it is a ‘white grape’, it is in fact a lovely coppery/dark rose skinned grape. With this being the case, we just can’t waste that colour and delicious flavour trapped in the skins, so we ferment this wine like a red. In 2020 we destemmed the fruit in its entirety and fermented it in open top fermenters. The fermentation on skins gives the wine a beautiful rose coloured hue. We found due a slightly higher yield the tannins were lovely and refined which enabled us to keep the wine on skins for 8 days before pressing in 2020.”
Working exclusively with Stellenbosch WO, this couple have been making Craven since 2013. All their wines are mono-varietal and there is no blending between vineyards. Their goals are purity, freshness and balance – there is minimal interference with the grapes once they reach the cellar. They do not own any vineyards, but by far most of the Cravens’ efforts throughout the year is in the vineyards and working with the farmers from whom they buy their fruit. In our opinion Mick and Jeanine are producing some of the most exciting wines coming out of Stellenbosch
Craven Pinot Gris is BACK!
– Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, José Vouillamoz
Craven Pinot Gris 2020
We are very pleased to announce the return of an Ex Animo Wine Co. favourite: the skin-fermented Craven Pinot Gris. Copper-coloured, uber-aromatic, super-refreshing and straight-up delicious.
In the words of Mick & Jeanine Craven:
“Pinot Gris is something we have a lot of fun working with. Although a lot of the wine drinking world think and assume it is a ‘white grape’, it is in fact a lovely coppery/dark rose skinned grape. With this being the case, we just can’t waste that colour and delicious flavour trapped in the skins, so we ferment this wine like a red. In 2020 we destemmed the fruit in its entirety and fermented it in open top fermenters. The fermentation on skins gives the wine a beautiful rose coloured hue. We found due a slightly higher yield the tannins were lovely and refined which enabled us to keep the wine on skins for 8 days before pressing in 2020.”
Working exclusively with Stellenbosch WO, this couple have been making Craven since 2013. All their wines are mono-varietal and there is no blending between vineyards. Their goals are purity, freshness and balance – there is minimal interference with the grapes once they reach the cellar. They do not own any vineyards, but by far most of the Cravens’ efforts throughout the year is in the vineyards and working with the farmers from whom they buy their fruit. In our opinion Mick and Jeanine are producing some of the most exciting wines coming out of Stellenbosch
Please contact david@exanimo.co.za if you have any queries.