Behind the vine

Jessica Saurwein - Saurwein - Western Cape, South Africa

When do you think you fell in love with wine, enough to make a career of it?

It’s funny, my last name Saurwein, is originally Austrian. It’s not a common last name, and I did some research into it. It turns out in the long line of my ancestors, there was one guy who delivered wine to the Duke of Austria. It was known to be bad wines, so you could say that inspired me to challenge the family name!

I'm half German and half South African. Growing up, my mom used to bring back wines from South Africa, and in a way there was always a wine culture and affinity with those wines in our home. From when I was 14, I was given a bit of wine at the table with the family and that became our culture. I always loved the idea how wine ties into culture and when I took a gap year, I worked at a wine farm. It was fantastic. I had a business card with the title 'assistant winemaker'. I remember being on a ladder at 9 or 10pm during fermentation and thinking 'Wow I could do this, this is amazing'.

After traveling, I applied to study to be a winemaker and got a BA in Agriculture. Once I did that, I started work at Bouchard Finlayson in SA. It was an incredible opportunity to learn a lot. I moved from project manager to marketing and sales. I worked in the harvest every year, but focused on doing projects in between, and then I ended up doing sales and marketing in 3 different wine regions. While I was working as the marketing manager, I knew I needed to make my own wine. Peter-Allen Finlayson gave me a ton of grapes and I started making Nom Pinot Noir in 2015 with 3 barrels. In 2018, I started making a Riesling and another Pinot from Hemel-en-Aarde. Now I've done 8 vintages.

I've always been in touch with people who are working the soil and it's been very rewarding, but now we're moving closer to owning our own small winery and farm with a regenerative agriculture model. It was my dream to be a viticulturist and grow a product from nature.

What story does your wine tell?

A lot of TLC and attention goes into the wine. To me, it’s more important to understand how a vine interacts with the soil and how you can extract the most complexity from a vineyard. I make hand-crafted wines, and I think each one of them has a unique story. I did art at school, so you will find the stories depicted in every label of Saurwein which I created working with female artists and designers.

The Riesling (Chi) is named for a rain god. It shows apples (Elgin is renowned as an apple growing region) and a body of water. Every element gives a sense of place because this vineyard is quite unique at 300 meters above sea level and 10 km from the sea. The name ‘Chi’ stands for life force and energy and it beckons you to have another sip. There is energy and freshness, excitement and tension.

The Pinot Noir (Nom) is named for an ancient Zulu goddess responsible for agriculture and fertility. When you go to this vineyard it's a mystical place with raspberry hedges and weeping willows. You're surrounded by tall mountains and you battle your way to this vineyard. With that wine, you feel closer to the gods.

What misconceptions about wine do you think people should forget?

Some people think wine is something only certain people can enjoy. As a category, it can feel intimidating. Think about when you walk into a shop. You'll never get as large a wall of soaps as you do of wine, and that sense of the unknown can make you feel fearful. But excitement and fear feel pretty much the same emotion and as long as you're courageous enough to explore what you know you like, it shouldn’t matter what anyone else says.

What great things about wine do you think people should remember?

SO many hands are involved in making a bottle of wine. From planting the vines and growing the grapes to fermentation and the final product, there's an energetic exchange in a bottle of wine that is often forgotten. In small enough volumes, a little glass of wine is healthy for our bodies and psyche. It helps to calm nerves and feel good. It's powerful to drink a bottle of wine.

What is a piece of advice you would give to a woman interested in breaking into the wine world?

Just do it. The most important thing is to apply yourself to anything you do in life, and don't be afraid to ask questions, and reach out to other women in wine. People are forthcoming with information and can give advice on finding the right balance. Women are amazing. They can manage a full-time job of motherhood and add a career. It's admirable to see so many women doing that successfully.

Who is a woman in wine that you think everyone should know about?

There's so many, but we all know about Andrea Mullineux. She's incredible. She came to South Africa with a dream of being the best, and she's been able to achieve her dream (even with 2 kids) because she is so tenacious. Samantha O'Keefe, Trizanne Barnard, Catherine Marshall. They all have managed to do amazing things while balancing children. Those are the people I admire because they are very similar in a way to what I would like to achieve one day.

Where can women find your wine?

South Africa, UK, US, Norway, Denmark, Brazil, France, Luxembourg and Singapore. Find your local option here.