Swerwer Touriga Nacional, Swartland ’23

Founded just over a decade ago, Swerwer is the personal project of owner and winemaker Jasper Wickens, whose work has earned widespread respect well beyond its modest scale. Jasper’s path into wine began at Zevenwacht Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, where his early exposure sparked a deeper commitment to the craft. He went on to study viticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University, and his formative years were shaped in no small part by his mentorship under Adi Badenhorst. Further experience at leading estates such as Terroir al Límit in Priorat and Matassa in the Roussillon helped refine a style rooted in site expression and restraint.

In 2012, Jasper established Swerwer with a singular focus: to highlight the exceptional vineyards of the Paardeberg within Swartland. Today, he produces five core wines, each made in small quantities and driven by a strong sense of place.

For this wine club we are focusing on his exceptional work with Touriga Nacional. While Touriga is best known as one of Portugal’s most important red varieties, particularly in the Douro and Bairrada, and as a cornerstone of Port, this expression takes a notably different path. Rather than emphasizing sheer power, Jasper has crafted a more measured, nuanced interpretation.

The fruit comes from a northwest-facing vineyard planted in 2007 on the Paardeberg Mountain. Although the broader region is warm and arid, the site benefits from cool morning temperatures, and its sandy, granitic soils lend natural lift and freshness. The result is a wine that remains varietally true, yet distinctly dialed back and elegantly proportioned.

Aromatically, the wine reflects its granitic origins, offering notes of violets, blueberry, and white pepper. On the palate, the fruit is silky and precise, supported by fresh acidity and soft, fine-grained tannins that carry through to a graceful finish. 

It is an excellent food wine, particularly well suited to dishes like seared duck breast or lamb chops, and rewards a brief decant.