SAAM

Ever since Jancis Robinson MW called SAAM "the producer who seems to be doing everything right" in the Financial Times a couple of years back, this brilliant producer has striven to exceed expectations. And what a job it's done! SAAM Mountain Vineyards unites a group 40 South African growers who farm vineyards that span the premium growing areas from Paarl to the Durbanville Hills. The vineyards produce, on average, less than 7 tonnes per hectare - around half the average yields of other wineries of this scale, ensuring that quality of fruit and intensity of flavour is naturally at the heart of SAAM Mountain's wines.

The whites are staples on many a list with the Chenin Blanc flying the flag for this brilliant grape variety. Move up the scale to the Middleburg Chenin Blanc though and suddenly you have the Trophy winner for "Best Chenin Blanc" in the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2008, South Africa's premier wine competition. You find the same story with wines like the Phisantekraal Sauvignon Blanc and the Koopmanskraal Shiraz which both blow the competition away in their price bracket.

On top of quality wine, SAAM is a winery with a strong social conscience. It is WIETA (Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association) certified and is working towards its Fairtrade accreditation. In addition to 3000 ha of vineyards SAAM has 1000 ha are made up of wetlands, sand and mountainous areas, home to the fynbos and other special, protected species. In addition to this the farmers are members of South Africa's Biodiversity program.with special protected species. Earlier in 2009 SAAM made sure some of this good work was felt in the UK as well as Africa by spearheading the fantastic Red Nose Wines project run with Jancis Robinson MW and Tim Atkin MW which raised over £730,000 for Comic Relief.

Read all about SAAM's move to sustainable wine production and lightweight bottles in our Bibendum Times Blog post, Sustainability at SAAM Vineyards.