Holden Manz Wine Estate was founded in Franschhoek, South Africa, in 2010 by Gerard Holden and Migo Manz. They aimed to create outstanding wines from noble grape varietals, drawing inspiration from their travels to renowned wine regions worldwide. The estate, nestled between the Franschhoek and Stoney Brook rivers, benefits from a unique terroir that yields remarkable red, white, rosé, and fortified wines.
Located in the top, southern-most corner of the Franschhoek Valley, in the embrace of its spectacular mountains, the 22 hectare Holden Manz Wine Estate is situated between the Franschhoek River and Stony Brook at 300 meters above sea level. An exclusive grower of red grapes, the Estate only cultivates its top 16 hectares under vineyards, notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Merlot. Long, cold and wet winters allow the vines to rest well, while hot dry summers and a gentle autumn allows for slow ripening. Featuring a rich and diverse terroir influenced by its unique natural surroundings, with 3 different soil types and a marked seasonal climate, the estate’s vineyards are perfectly suited to our intention – the production of ultra-premium wines made for the discerning wine connoisseur.
Visionaire - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Twenty percent of the wine was aged in new 225-litre French oak barrels and eighty percent in second- and third-fill 225-litre French oak barrels for 24 months before blending and bottling. Grapes were selected from distinct parcels with varying soil types, creating complexity and intricacy in the wine; they were picked at optimal ripeness to balance sugar and phenolic components, then bunch- and berry-sorted, crushed, and destemmed to tank. After a five-day cold soak, fermentation was initiated, and minimal additions were made to preserve the true cultivar characteristics. An intense dark red color wine, with red berry, mulberry, pencil shavings, white pepper, violet notes. On the palate these along with black fruit notes appear and the acid and tannins are well integrated and playful on the palate.
