LET the fun begin when you crack open a bottle of Simonsig’s new Needless to Say Rosé. This playful, fruity and fresh wine is the latest release from the famous Stellenbosch estate and just in time for South Africa’s favourite sunny season.
Deliciously refreshing, Simonsig Needless to Say Rosé is the wine to get whether you’re having sundowners with friends or heading out on a leisurely picnic. In fact, it’s so good that it made its debut at the South African premiere of the Barbie movie.
The name is a play on words inspired by the first white and red wines released by Simonsig – Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. When deciding on a blend for this new wine, these two cultivars were the obvious choice. Not only are they grapes Simonsig knows well enough to show their best, but they are part of the Simonsig story too.
Cellarmaster Michael Malan’s grandfather, Frans, released the first Chenin Blanc in 1968. The Pinotage followed two years later, and they’ve been part of Simonsig’s award-winning portfolio ever since. Of course, blending red and white grape varieties isn’t the traditional way of making rosé. Most are made from red grapes only. In combining Chenin Blanc and Pinotage for Needless to Say Rosé, however, has proven to be a match made in heaven.
The wine underscores Simonsig’s legacy of innovation that began with Frans Malan. Soon after bottling those two early wines, he also made South Africa’s first Cap Classique and for the task, he unconventionally used Chenin Blanc.
In crafting the new rosé, Michael Malan pursued the vision of a well-made wine. It had to be a worthy addition to carry the Simonsig name. Having carefully selected the best grapes, the wine was made, and a beautiful new story was ready to unfold.
The Simonsig Needless to Say Rosé shows the colour of a radiant, cotton-candy sunset. Its aromatic profile has strawberry sherbet, passion fruit and ripe pineapple with subtle notes of white blossoms. On the palate, a zesty tingle of acidity carries the fruit with a light, creamy texture. It makes for a balanced, elegant wine for all occasions, and is suitable for vegans.
It pairs well with seafood pasta, fresh salads with a salmon twist, various Thai food dishes and sushi, but is worthy of further exploration. As a new permanent feature of Simonsig’s range, the wine joins the Cultivar Collection that comprises the Sunbird Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Fox Chardonnay, Jamala Gewürztraminer, Pick of the Bunch Pinotage and Mr Borio’s Shiraz.
It sells for R85 per bottle directly from Simonsig at the tasting room and through the online shop, as well as leading retailers countrywide. To find out more, click here or connect with @SimonsigWines on Facebook and Instagram.
