COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2025
GRAPE
Syrah
PRODUCER
Craven Wines
REGION
Western Cape
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Craven Wines was founded in 2013 by husband-and-wife team Mick and Jeanine Craven, who met in Sonoma, California, before relocating to Stellenbosch, South Africa. They have become leading figures in the country's "New Wave" wine movement, focusing exclusively on site-specific, single-vineyard, and single-varietal expressions. The Firs Vineyard is situated in the Devon Valley ward of Stellenbosch, featuring deep, iron-rich, burnt-orange clay and shale soils. While Devon Valley is historically known for producing heavy, opulent red wines, the Cravens completely reimagine this terroir by crafting a fresh, mineral-driven, and elegant Syrah that defies regional expectations.
ALCOHOL
13.3%
AVG. PRICE
€30
STYLE
Natural
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
15-17°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
The 2025 vintage received a stellar 97-point score from critic Christian Eedes, the highest score ever awarded to a Craven wine.
Fact 02
Matured entirely in concrete tanks instead of oak to highlight the pure, unadulterated expression of the shale soils.
Fact 03
The Firs Vineyard features deep, burnt-orange colored shale and clay soils planted with Syrah clone S22 in 2002.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking process is defined by a hands-off, low-intervention philosophy. Grapes are hand-harvested early in the season to retain natural acidity and cooler-climate peppery tones. In the cellar, the fruit undergoes 100% whole-cluster fermentation driven by native yeasts in open-top stainless steel fermenters. The grapes are lightly foot-stomped to release a small amount of juice, followed by gentle daily pumpovers for nine days of skin contact to avoid harsh seed extraction. The wine is aged for 10 months entirely in concrete tanks—a deliberate transition away from oak to emphasize pure fruit expression and soil texture—and bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur additions.
