The Fledge & Co, Souzão, South Africa

Wine Type: Red

Grape(s): 100% Souzão

Country: South Africa

Region: Calitzdorp

Organic: No

Vegan: No

ABV: 13%

Winery: Currently the Fledge & Co are working around 50 vineyards & 23 varieties, spread across the entire length and breadth of the Cape’s winelands: from the Cederberg in the far north; the west coast along the icy Atlantic; the harsh Swartland; the vinous epicentre of Stellenbosch; ultra-cool climate Elgin; as far south as one can go on the continent in Agulhas; then the continental Tradouw & Keisie of Montagu; as well as the far flung Sijjn in the shadow of the Langeberg and then the semi-desert Klein Karoo. Each harvest their travels top 20,000km (12,500 miles), each & all wines are hand crafted with care according to traditional techniques.  

Fledge & Co is made up of Leon Coetzee & Margaux Nel (8^th Generation winemaker with a master’s degree in viticulture) and this vine to wine project started back in 2007 to craft authentic wines for enjoyment with fine fare in good company to showcase the very best of the Cape.  First release of wines was in 2012 with a total 360 bottles.  

Their ethos is a simple one - “terroir by truck” - wine is made from grapes, grapes come from vines - so the right place, the right grape, the right wine.  Hand harvested fruit for their wines, which they craft utilizing traditional techniques combined with a twist of modern sensibility while always respecting the fruit to craft an honest wine. Thus, their wines are not flashy, restrained yet buxom & all do better with time in bottle or decanting, are great with food & are cellar-worthy to boot. It’s a New World approach to Old World sensibility.

Their growers farm sustainably for the future - none are “certified”, but there are growers who have been on the land for multiple generations dating back to the first settlers of the 17^th century; some follow biodynamic principles. Winemaking is super simple & as hands off as possible - they ensure that the grapes & all the effort of the growers and workers are respected & as far as possible eschew unnecessary modern technology.  Their aim is to showcase a vintage at the Cape of Good Hope & diversity of their country’s vineyards.

Vineyard: Crafted from six unique sites – one at 500m above sea-level on an iconic “First Growth” Stellenbosch estate on ancient granitic soils; then Elgin with block on Bokkeveld shale on an exposed ridge facing the South Easterly, plus a small portion of Sémillon on boulders of sandstone & ironstone; a picturesque vineyard wedged in among orchids rooted in Bokkeveld shale & ferricrete soils; followed gnarled bush vines looking towards Table Mountain atop a granitic hillside along the wild West Coast in Darling & rounded off with vines along the Buffeljagsrivier near Swellendam with its über marginal cool climate & bolder strewn soils. 

Winemaking: All fruit is hand harvested, has a gentle pressing, then has a lees-rich, long cold fermentation in stainless steel tank and a few old French oak casks with a Sauvignon specific yeast strain & bottled after three months on the fine lees to build complexity and flesh out the wine from this fantastically challenging vintage.

Tasting Notes: Initially a tad shy, it then bursts forth with layers of peach, lime and lemon, white spice, tropical fruits with zesty green citrus and crushed chalk finish with a flirtation of fynbos making it an ideal match for fresh seafoods (sushi, sashimi or fish ‘n tjips), a simple roast chicken & garden salad or simply enjoy with a sunset BBQ among good company.

Tim Aktin's South Africa guide 2026: "This the Fledge’s tenth vintage of this “humble and faithful donkey” variety, this comes from a single site on the Doornbosch farm in Calitzdorp. Showing the colour and acidity that are part of Souzão’s DNA, this has some subtle, stony reduction, flavours of bramble, redcurrant and cranberry and an unabashedly chewy finish." 92 points. 

Pairing: Enjoy lightly chilled paired with rustic country fare; fine cheese and charcuterie or a BBQ with a few lamb chops.