Southern Right is a small Pinotage and Sauvignon blanc specialist with a carefully tailored cellar, located on a strikingly beautiful 448 ha property in the cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus.

Founded by Anthony Hamilton Russell in 1994, Southern Right’s aim was to produce a serious, age-worthy Pinotage (South Africa’s unique red grape variety) combining a distinct South African fruit and flavour expression with classic styling and refinement. It is Anthony’s belief that as an early ripening grape, Pinotage is best suited to cooler areas. It was also his conviction that the stony, very high iron and clay content, shale-derived soils, on the sites he chose for the vineyards, were best suited to creating the more refined, classic style he was aiming for. Rigorous yield management and extreme care to ensure harvesting at optimal physiological ripeness, combine with the terroir to re-define South Africa’s red grape variety. The Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc remains a local and international best-seller with its classic, tight minerality, textural layers and length. Natural and endemic yeasts ensure longer slower fermentations and the aim is to avoid an excessively dramatic varietal character obscuring the expression of site and soil. Southern Right Sauvignon blanc has been listed as one of South Africa’s best wine values more than 5 times in the Wine Spectator.

The wines are named after the rare Southern Right whales, which frequent the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay, at closest, 3 kilometres from the vineyards. With each bottle sold, Southern Right makes a contribution to their conservation and the conservation of indigenous and endangered vegetation in the area. Southern Right’s motto – Naturam Esse Omne – Nature is Everything – is carried on their neck label as an indication of their commitment to conservation and the improvement of their environment.