Spier cellar master, Frans Smit, has a passion for his vineyards and is the ultimate terroiriste. He and the Woolworths wine team have covered many dusty roads to search out the ultimate terroir for four specific cultivars.
Hence the ground-breaking range of "True to Terroir" wines that you can find at selected Woolworths stores. Here they are:
Lonely Blue Gum Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Named after a spectacularly steep southfacing vineyard with a solitary blue-gum tree standing amongst the vines, this wine’s key terroir benefits are its closeness to False Bay and the unirrigated, mineral-rich soil through which the vines search deeply for water.
These conditions allow the grapes to be fully ripe at lower sugar levels resulting in lower alcohols and a most appealing natural acidity. The wine’s bouquet combines both green fig and capsicum flavours with riper tropical fruit. The palate is rich and flavourful while retaining a tingling freshness.
The Abacus Chardonnay 2008
This wine’s steep, sloping vineyard gets cooler as it climbs to the top, from where there is a breathtaking view of the ocean, 6 km away. Hence, harvesting is staggered according to the diff erent ripening times of the vines due to their height.
The rich, fertile soil combines slate with clay and works as a sponge, absorbing water in winter and releasing it in summer, when needed. Frans Smit calls it "a perfect vineyard with everything you need to make super Chardonnay".
The low yields of four to five tons per hectare increase complexity and the constant cooling sea breezes invigorate the vines. A complex Chardonnay with intense lemon and lime flavours, overlaid with peach and apricot fruit, the wine’s elegant palate is creamy with gentle oak spice and a delightful subtle toastiness.
Koffie Klip Merlot 2007
This flat 6-hectare vineyard gets its name from the dark, rich Koffie Klip soils with their black lumps that resemble coffee beans. The cool, nutritious, water-retaining soil does not need irrigation and ripens evenly – ideal for Merlot. The vineyard block is split in two with one part planted on low trellises and the other on high trellises, causing the vines to ripen at diff erent times and allowing the winemaker to create his ideal blend.
The result is a wine with a chocolatey, spicy nose with blackcurrant, dark berries and cherries. The palate is smooth, supple and elegant with ripe fruit and a persistent finish.
The Hutton Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
The Hutton soil of this vineyard in the Darling area has 
much to do with the class and quality of this award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon. It is made up of very rich red, decomposed Malmesbury shale which retains water and allows abundant vineyard growth.
Low-density plantings result in small yields of five tons per hectare which ensure intense blackcurrant, and blackberry flavour concentration. The palate is firm and full-bodied with clean minerality and a sensual texture.
READ MORE: Spier Estate rakes in more awards for their fab wines
What 'terroir' really means