ORANGE / SOUTH AFRICA / NATURAL / ORGANIC / VEGAN / LOW SULPHITE

Easy drinking – Citrusy – Creamy texture

An easy way into orange wine and a dangerously easy to drink one too. In the glass it’s light orange, with hints of pithy fruit and honey blossoms. There’s a bit of texture but the tannins are very subtle and perfectly balanced by fresh notes of mandarin, apricots and creamy peaches. The finish is bright and acidic, leaving you wanting for more.

• Origin: Paarl, South Africa
• Producer:Rook en Spieels
• Vintage:2025
• Grape varieties: Semillon
• Food pairings: Roasted vegetables, poultry, pork, shellfish and lean fish, goat’s cheese
• Bottle size:75cl
• ABV: 12%

Flavour profile

On the nose
Lifted citrus and stone fruit aromas come forward first, with mandarin zest, apricot skin and honey blossom notes. Theres a subtle hint of orange peel and ptale that speaks to the skin contact process.

On the palate
The palate is gently textured with soft tannins and creamy peach flesh, all supported by bright acidity. Flavours of ripe apricot, citrus pith and mandarin are balanced by a subtle spiced edge, finishing lively and moreish.

• Sweetness: Dry
• Body: Medium-bodied
• Tannins: Low
• Acidity: Medium
• Oak: None
• Primary flavours: Mandarin, apricot, peach, citrus peel, honey blossom

About the Winery

Rook en Spieels are part of a new generation of South African producers embracing alternative and low-intervention styles. Based in Paarl, they work with natural fermentation and skin contact techniques to reveal what the grapes and terroir can do without heavy manipulation. Daily punch-downs during maceration build gentle texture, and ageing in concrete eggs and vessels adds controlled oxygen exposure while keeping freshness and clarity front of mind.

About Semillon

Semillon is a versatile white grape with a long history in winemaking, most famously in dry whites and the sweet wines of Bordeaux. In its dry forms, it tends to show honeyed stone fruit, citrus and floral notes, with a richness that builds texture and depth. Skin contact amplifies this grapes aromatic complexity and adds gentle grip without heaviness, making it ideal for expressive, orange wine styles that balance fruit intensity with refreshing acidity.

How to pair it

This textured, citrus-driven Semillon is very food-friendly. Serve it with roasted vegetables or warm salads, gently spiced poultry, shellfish like prawns or scallops, and lean fish cooked with citrus or herbs. It also works great with creamy goats cheese or light vegetarian dishes.