Gilga Wines | Gilga Product and Packaging | True Cork

Gilga Wines

Gilga Wines is a South African Syrah specialist producing terroir specific world class Syrah, from single vineyards that have been identified by their individuality and remarkable quality. Thusfar two vineyards have been isolated and put into production under the Gilga label: Gilga Syrah and G Syrah.

The philosophy is simple; minimal intervention naturally made pure wines, enabling vineyard specificity and terroir to be recognized and encouraged.

Gilga is a perfect sloping triangular vineyard. It faces south towards the coast of False Bay, and its microclimate is further enhanced by the protection of tall woodland to its north.

The G vineyard is situated just below the Gilga vineyard and as such is vinified separately and given specific care according to its own unique character. G Syrah 2002 is not a 2nd label; it is Gilga Wines second vineyard specific Syrah.

Gilga Wines has also identified and isolated certain vineyards of non-Syrah varietals. These higher altitude vineyards produce Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc of brilliant quality. Wines will only be produced from these two vineyards in exceptional years and with utilization of only the highest selection of fruit.

Gilga Wines is also constantly engaged in research and experimentation; one result of which is micro production bush-vine Pinotage, made in minute quantities and again only in exceptional years.

As such, Gilga Wines maintains its terroir specific ideals.

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Gilga product and packaging

Gilga is a low yield product, hand handled and selected, that goes through natural secondary fermentation in light toasted French oak. The wine goes unfiltered into glass imported from France and is closed by a 52mm length Magnum cork. These corks, of the finest grain, are hand selected in Portugal and flown in just before bottling.

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True Cork

The word " TRUE " appears on the Gilga Syrah cork from the 2001 vintage release. This follows after CHRIS made a mistake by printing 2001 on the corks of the 2000 vintage. The 2000 was bottled in 2001, but should have had 2000 printed on the corks. The corks arrived as the wine was going on the bottling line and there was no turning back. So when the 2001 vintage was bottled, it was decided to put the word "TRUE" on the 2001 cork. This was so liked by people, (the only in the world to do so) that the word TRUE has subsequently become part of the brand and has appeared on the Gilga Syrah cork since then.