Spier Wine Farm Unveils Grenache in Three Styles and Scores Highly with Tim Atkin
Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch is entering the South African spring with a series of new releases, international wine accolades and an ongoing programme dedicated to art and heritage. The estate was a nominee and winner of the 2025–2026 Wine Travel Awards in The Visiting Card of the Country/Progressive Approach. In September, the historic estate introduced its 2026 Ideology Grenaches, while six Spier wines received scores of 90 points or higher in Tim Atkin’s 2026 South Africa Special Report.
The 2026 Ideology release comprises three limited-release wines – Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir and Grenache Rosé. Winemaker Tania Kleintjes worked with organically grown fruit from Paarl, exploring the variety in three different styles.
Spier cellar master Johan Jordaan and winemaker Tania Kleintjes. Picture: Supplied
The 2026 Ideology release comprises three limited-release wines – Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir and Grenache Rosé. Winemaker Tania Kleintjes worked with organically grown fruit from Paarl, exploring the variety in three different styles.
The fruit comes from vineyards rooted in deep, weathered shale soils with high clay content. The Grenache Noir underwent semi-carbonic maceration during natural fermentation. Grenache Blanc was fermented at controlled temperatures in stainless steel and then spent four months on its gross lees.
The 2026 Ideology range from Spier explores Grenache through three styles: Blanc, Rosé and Noir. Photo: Supplied
The Grenache Rosé is based on Grenache Noir with smaller portions of Chenin Blanc and Grenache Blanc. It was made without skin contact and handled much like a white wine, followed by four months on its gross lees.
The new release comes alongside Spier’s results in the 2026 Tim Atkin South Africa Special Report. Six Spier wines scored 90 points or more.
The 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 and Frans K. Smit White Blend 2025 each received 93 points. The 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2024 and 21 Gables Pinotage 2022 scored 92 points, while Creative Block 5 2022 received 91 and Creative Block 3 2022 scored 90 points.
Tim Atkin MW assessed 1,831 wines from more than 350 South African wineries for the report.
Spier’s 21 Gables range also received two Gold medals at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition. The 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 and 21 Gables Chenin Blanc 2024 each scored 96 points.
In August, four Spier Chenin Blancs were recognised at the 2026 Global Chenin Masters, receiving one Master, two Gold medals and one Silver.
Spier’s programme extends beyond wine. The estate has announced Creative Block: Making a Mark, an exhibition presenting 150 original works by 85 South African artists. It will run from 2 October to 31 December 2026 in Spier’s Old Wine Cellar, with free admission. The Creative Block programme has supported professional South African artists for more than 23 years.
In September, Spier is also highlighting its heritage. The estate was established in 1692 and has 21 Cape Dutch gables, more than any other farm in South Africa. Its oldest gable dates to 1767 and forms part of the wine cellar behind the Manor House, which Spier identifies as the oldest dated wine cellar in South Africa. The estate also acknowledges the contribution of enslaved people and craftspeople from the East to the construction of its historic buildings.
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Source: spier.co.za, wantedonline.co.za