South African wine is not a short story. It’s an odyssey. Its characters have their adventures shaped by the places they travel and the people they meet. DAMASCENE is about a quest for revelation, and each wine is a chapter in this odyssey.
South African wine is not a short story. It’s an odyssey. Its characters have their adventures shaped by the places they travel and the people they meet. DAMASCENE is about a quest for revelation, and each wine is a chapter in this odyssey.
The DAMASCENE founders were united by three passions; the pursuit of excellence, a spirit of discovery, and the desire to preserve nature through sustainable agriculture. Wine entrepeneur David Curl (the former owner of Chateau Gaby in Canon-Fronsac) had begun discussions with winemaker Jean Smit about his involvement in Moya Meaker wines; an Elgin-based winery focussing on premium cool-climate Burgundy cultivars.
But after many long conversations about life, the meaning of quality, and the philosophical search for what wine should be (rather than what it is) they were both convinced that their collaboration would not end there. Within six months, Damascene was conceived; a series of wines that would tell the story, not of their owners, or marketing trends, but of the very vineyards themselves.
The DAMASCENE founders were united by three passions; the pursuit of excellence, a spirit of discovery, and the desire to preserve nature through sustainable agriculture. Wine entrepeneur David Curl (the former owner of Chateau Gaby in Canon-Fronsac) had begun discussions with winemaker Jean Smit about his involvement in Moya Meaker wines; an Elgin-based winery focussing on premium cool-climate Burgundy cultivars.
But after many long conversations about life, the meaning of quality, and the philosophical search for what wine should be (rather than what it is) they were both convinced that their collaboration would not end there. Within six months, Damascene was conceived; a series of wines that would tell the story, not of their owners, or marketing trends, but of the very vineyards themselves.
Damascene wines are about telling stories. They’re born to express the way that man and place collaborate to form narrative. Both vineyard and viticulturist play a role in the story. The winemaker plays the role of editor, and each of our wines tells of their own adventure.
The La Chataigne Vineyard, on the banks of the Franschhoek river, is one of South Africa’s oldest Sémillon blocks, consisting of bush vines planted as early as 1942.
Produced with fruit from two hilltop sites in the Bottelary ward. This bottling expresses all the concentration and nervous tension that comes from the sites’ extremely rocky granitic soils.
This modern take on classic Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from three impressively disparate granitic sites. The vineyards we work with are from the wards of Nuweland, Bottelary and Helderberg, facing southeast, west, and northeast.
Syrah grapes were sourced from three distinct vineyards; a cloud-covered Polkadraai hill, a granitic outcrop in Bottelary, and a sheltered nook in Devon Valley.
Three vineyards at differing altitudes, planted into granite, schist, and Malmesbury shale, coalesce to express a vivid snapshot of Swartland Syrah.
This secluded block of vines at an extreme altitude of 940m ASL form an oasis of order and calm amidst the vast, wild and rocky expanse of the stark Cederberg Plateau.
This vineyard is at the top of the Ceres Plateau in the Witzenberg mountain range, and is planted with the SH1C clone.
A complex expression of three mountainous vineyards, featuring shale, greywacke and granite soils. From vines planted as early as 1972.
A blend of two mountainous Swartland vineyards. The wine opens with a burst of crushed apple freshness, white stone and wild flower honey.
Damascene is about moments of revelation. It’s about seeking out memorable vineyards and sites that showcase the incredible diversity of character in the various terroirs around the Western Cape. Where a wine is an expression of more than one site, we have listed each site separately, as each vineyard brings its own highly distinctive elements to the final wine.
The path to enlightenment is long and winding. But it’s so much more inspiring with like-minded company. We’d love you to join our community by signing up to our monthly newsletter, so that we can share our adventures with you as they unfold each vintage.
