“I love making wine from all these different areas. I believe the more different building blocks you have, the more complex wine you will be able to make.”
Early on, Pierre’s passion for nature fuelled a teenage dream of being a nature conservationist. Travelling regularly with his father, a citrus consultant, Pierre soon realised that citrus farming was limited to looking, listening and tasting in the orchard. It was then that Pierre discovered that winemaking ticked all the boxes.
He attended Elsenburg – the youngest student in his class to study cellar technology. Graduating in 1995, he commenced his winemaking career at Niel Joubert Wines in Paarl as chief winemaker. In 1998, he accepted a challenging appointment at Môreson in Franschhoek where he gained most of his winemaking experience and travelled the wine world. Those four years groomed him for his next position as winemaker at Rijk’s, Tulbagh – a position he held from 2002 to 2021 and one that saw him win numerous awards. Pierre’s belief to this day is that his wines have a unique signature – a direct result of never being an assistant winemaker under prescribed winemaking conditions. Pierre has consulted to various wineries in the Tulbagh area.
After 20 years at Rijk’s, Pierre decided that it was time for a new challenge and accepted the position as cellar master at the fairly new Survivor wine brand, which falls under the umbrella of Overhex Wines. Here he can use his decades of winemaking experience to make wines from five different wine producing areas, namely the Swartland, Stellenbosch, Elgin, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge and Tradouw. His first vintage at Survivor was in 2022.
100% Chenin Blanc
Wine of Origin Swartland
This marks the debut of Survivor Wines’ Chenin Blanc at the CWG Auction. The wine undergoes 100% natural fermentation, reflecting the commitment to authenticity and minimal intervention. Sourced from a 15-year-old dryland bush vine vineyard, the grapes carry a rich heritage, stemming from the farm where my grandmother’s family hails from.
Tasting Notes: The wine offers a captivating complexity, revealing an array of aromas that encompass melon, golden delicious apple, and delicate peach blossom notes. Full-bodied, creamy palate with a lively acid.
Ready for drinking from 2025.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Pinot Noir
Wine of Origin Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Tasting Notes: Freshly squeezed pomegranate, ripe cherries and black forest mushroom on the nose. These aromas are entrapped by a silky tannin structure, subtle oak and fresh acid on the palate.
Ready for drinking from 2024 to 2030.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Chardonnay
Wine of Origin Tradouw
Tasting Notes: Aromas of spring blossoms, dried pineapple, cinnamon, ripe grapefruit and mandarin zest. On the palate, bright citrus takes the lead, with almonds and lemon meringue pie and a flinty finish.
Ready for drinking from 2024 to 2028.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Chenin Blanc
Grapes from a 14-year-old bush vine vineyard were picked by hand in the cool of the night to capture the true flavours of this diverse variety. The wine was naturally fermented in a new and second fill 300 litre French oak barrel and left for 14 months before racking and bottling. After fermentation, sulphur was only added before spring 2018. This allowed for yeast cell autolysis to take place, preventing any sulphur compounds forming that could lead to reductive characters. No malolactic fermentation took place.
Tasting Notes: Fresh, white peach and gooseberry nose, accompanied by notes of cracked almonds. These aromas carry through on a rich, multi-layered palate with a lingering, yet gentle, aftertaste.
21 cases of this wine were previously sold on the 2020 Auction.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Pinotage
Grapes from a 12-year-old bush vine vineyard were picked by hand in the cool of the night to capture the true flavours of this unique variety. A 48-hour cold maceration period preceded alcoholic fermentation. Pigeage took place three times per day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were gently pressed at 4°Balling. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in a new and a 2nd fill French oak barrel.
Tasting Notes: Attractive bramble berry aromas, supported by a presence of quality oak spice, along with whiffs of perfume on the nose. These aromas carry through onto a rich and flavour-filled, full-bodied palate.
Ready for drinking from 2022.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Chenin Blanc
Estate Wine of Origin Tulbagh
Grapes from a 14-year-old bush vine vineyard were picked by hand in the cool of the night to capture the true flavours of this diverse variety. The wine was naturally fermented in a new and second fill 300 litre French oak barrel and left for 14 months before racking and bottling. After fermentation, sulphur was only added before spring 2018. This allowed for yeast cell autolysis to take place, preventing any sulphur compounds forming that could lead to reductive characters. No malolactic fermentation took place.
Even though 2018 was a vintage of drought, we still managed to produce a wine with great power, without compromising on elegance.
Tasting Notes: Fresh white peach and gooseberry nose accompanied by notes of cracked almonds. These aromas carry through on a rich, multi-layered palate with a lingering, yet gentle, aftertaste.
Ready for drinking in 2024 and beyond.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand-picked at night. A 48-hour cold maceration period was given prior to fermentation. Pigeage took place three times a day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 4° Balling. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in a new and a second ll 300 litre French oak barrel.
Tasting Notes: This opaque, black coloured wine has a complex nose of liquorice and blackcurrant, supported by some fynbos aromas. These exquisite aromas carry through onto a rich, creamy palate.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
Grapes were hand-picked at night. A 48 hour cold maceration period was given prior to fermentation. Pigeage took place three times a day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 5° balling. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrels, racked, returned and left to mature for 22 months in a new and a second fill French oak barrel. No fining agents used and only filtered lightly at bottling.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were gently crushed and pressed, 100% barrel fermented and matured for 16 months in a new and a second fill 300 litre French oak barrel. This wine was fermented with natural yeast to ensure that the uniqueness of our distinct terroir was revealed. Fermentation took eight months to complete. Malolactic fermentation was not encouraged in order to protect the varietal characters.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand-picked at night. 100% barrel fermented and matured for 14 months in one new and one second fill 300 litre French oak barrel. This wine was fermented with natural yeast. No malolactic fermentation took place in order to preserve the natural acids and varietal purity of this diverse cultivar.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand-picked at night. 100% barrel fermented and matured for 14 months in one new and one second fill 300 litre French oak barrel. This wine was fermented with natural yeast. No malolactic fermentation took place in order to preserve the natural acids and varietal purity of this diverse cultivar.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
To ensure maximum fruit and colour retention, the grapes were hand-picked in the cool of the night. The crushed berries were given a 48 hour cold maceration prior to fermentation. Manual punch-downs were done three times a day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 5° Balling. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in one new and one second fill French oak barrel.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
To ensure maximum fruit and colour retention, the grapes were hand-picked in the cool of the night. The crushed berries were given a 56 hour cold maceration prior to fermentation. Pigeage took place 3 times a day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 5°B. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in one new and one second fill French oak barrel.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand-picked at night. 100% barrel fermented and matured for 14 months in one new and one second fill 300 litre French oak barrel. This wine was fermented with natural yeast. No malolactic fermentation took place. Tasting Notes: Exotic fruit aromas dominate the nose with hints of pineapple, nectarines and butterscotch. A rich, creamy palate is well balanced and freshened up by the presence of a lively acidity. This wine is full bodied and has a long finish.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand-picked at night. 56 hours cold maceration prior to fermentation. Pigeage took place 3 times per day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 5 degrees balling. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in 50% new and 50% second fill French oak barrels. Tasting Notes: This opaque-black coloured wine has a complex nose of liquorice and blackcurrant, supported by some fynbos aromas. These exquisite aromas carry through onto a rich, creamy palate. Silky, well-integrated and elegant tannins keep this wine in perfect harmony and balance.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
Hand-picked in the cool of the night to retain freshness and flavours. 48 hours cold maceration (10 degrees C) prior to fermentation. 20% of the grapes were not crushed and destemmed and were left to ferment beneath the crushed grapes. Extraction was done by doing a combination of pump-overs and pigeage three times per day. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in a new 300 litre French oak barrel. Tasting Notes: The wine has an exceptional vibrant red colour. A complex nose of black and white pepper spices with liquorice, bramble and black fruit undertones. Well-structured, elegant tannins support a multi-layered, creamy palate and ensure great harmony and balance.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand-picked at night, 100% barrel fermented and matured for 12 months in one new and one 2nd fill 300 litre French oak barrel. This wine was fermented with natural yeast. No malolactic fermentation took place. Tasting Notes: Attractive stone-fruit aromas dominate the nose with hints of citrus blossoms, butterscotch and pine nut. A rich, creamy palate is well balanced and freshened up by the presence of a lively acidity. This wine is full bodied and has a long finish.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand picked at night. 100% barrel fermented and matured for 15 months in a second fill French oak barrel. This wine was fermented with a slow fermenting yeast strain to produce a certain amount of ‘volume’. No malolactic fermentation took place. Tasting Notes: Attractive stone-fruit aromas dominate the nose with hints of quince and pine nut. A rich, creamy palate is well balanced and freshened up by the presence of a lively acidity. This wine is full bodied and has a long finish.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
The grapes were hand picked at night and went through 56 hours cold maceration prior to fermentation. Pigeage took place 3 times per day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 5 degrees balling. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 22 months in 33% new and 67% second fill French oak barrels. Tasting Notes: This world-class wine has a vibrant deep red colour with an intense nose of ripe black cherries and bramble fruit, with underlying vanilla and cinnamon notes. The palate is well weighted and balanced, with elegant tannin to ensure a great maturation potential.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Chenin blanc The grapes were hand picked at night, 100% barrel fermented and matured for 12 months in 40% new and 60% 2nd fill French oak barrels. 50% of this wine was fermented with wild yeast. No malolactic fermentation took place. Tasting note: Light straw colour. Attractive peach and apricot aromas dominate the nose with hints of quince and apple strudel. These aromas are well supported by a nutty presence which originates from the use of quality oak. This wine has a full bodied palate with a lasting aftertaste. Drink now and until 2013.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
100% Pinotage The grapes were hand picked at night. 56 hours cold maceration prior to fermentation. Pigeage took place 3 times per day to extract tannin and colour. Skins were pressed at 5 degrees balling. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. Matured for 20 months in 70% new and 30% 2nd fill French oak barrels. Tasting note: Alluring rich red colour. Intense nose of cherries and bramble fruit with underlying cinnamon notes. The palate is well weighted and balanced, with elegant tannin to ensure great maturation potential. The wine will be ready for drinking in 2014.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
Grapes were hand-picked at night. 100% barrel fermented and matured for 12 months in 50% new and 50% 2nd fill French oak. 20% of this wine was fermented with wild yeast. No malolactic fermentation took place. Tasting note: Goldish colour. Complex yellow fruit nose with hints of quince and pine nut. These aromas are well supported by a nutty presence which originates from the use of quality oak. This wine has a full bodied palate with a lasting aftertaste.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl
Grapes were picked by hand in the cool of the night. The Semillon was fermented in new 300 Litre French oak barrels and matured for 12 months on the lees before being blended with the Sauvignon Blanc that was 50% tank fermented and 50% barrel fermented. Soft filtration prior to bottling. Tasting note: Straw coloured with a green tint. Intense white asparagus and grassy nose – typical aromas for a cool vintage. Full bodied, juicy mouth-feel is finished off with a balanced acid to keep the palate fresh and zesty.
Winemaker: Pierre Wahl