Steenberg Wine Estate has unveiled a sophisticated new look for its flagship wines, marking a significant evolution in its visual identity. The striking new labels debut on the recently released Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and Steenberg Catharina 2021, reinforcing the estate’s commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and authenticity.

“Our new labels are more than just a visual update—they are a reflection of Steenberg’s mastery in winemaking,” says Marketing Manager Carryn Wiltshire, Steenberg Wines. “By combining premium design with our long-standing focus on terroir and quality, we are ensuring that our flagship wines remain as aspirational as they are exceptional.”

Steenberg Farm was founded in 1682, the first Cape Farm. The estate’s vineyards are planted on some of the oldest wine-growing soils in the world, dating back 500-600 million years. These ancient decomposed granite soils provide a distinctive minerality and complexity that defines Steenberg’s wines.

The Constantia Valley, home to Steenberg, is globally recognised as the world’s oldest New World wine-growing region. Its cool climate, rich soil diversity, and proximity to ocean breezes create ideal conditions for producing world-class wines that rival the finest vintages from areas such as Pessac-Léognan and Sancerre in France.

The Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2024 exemplifies Steenberg’s expertise in cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc. The wine reveals vibrant notes of nasturtium, sugar-snap pea, fresh asparagus, and capsicum on the nose, followed by fresh lemon, dried apricot, and mange tout on the palate. Extended lees contact imparts mouth-watering acidity and a long, full finish. This wine is poised for cellaring, rewarding patience with enhanced complexity over 10 to 20 years.

The Black Swan name has its roots in Steenberg’s rich history. The farm’s original name was ‘Swaaneweide’ – The Feeding Place of Swans. When Steenberg’s founder, Catharina Ras, arrived from Lübeck, Germany, she mistook the area’s spur-winged geese for swans. These dark-feathered geese still roam the estate today, connecting the present to Steenberg’s founding story. The Black Swan name pays homage to this unique moment in the farm’s heritage.

“The Black Swan reflects our commitment to producing ageless Sauvignon Blancs that stand as benchmarks for cool-climate winemaking,” says Elunda Basson, Steenberg Winemaker. “We intentionally blend only the finest components from our top Sauvignon Blanc vineyards, producing a wine that delivers fruit purity and texture.”

Viticulturist Vlok Hanekom attributes the wine’s elegance to meticulous vineyard management. “Our Black Swan vineyards are rooted in deep decomposed granite soils, buffered by a clay layer that helps sustain the vines through calm and stressful conditions,” says Hanekom. “By allowing the foliage to sprawl naturally, we achieve grapes that deliver sweet yet complex flavours alongside naturally high acidity.”

The Steenberg Catharina 2021 is a masterfully crafted Bordeaux-style blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, and 3% Petit Verdot. It offers layered blackberry, plum, cassis, and lavender blossom aromas, enhanced by subtle notes of vanilla stick and dark chocolate. The palate reveals rich layers of red and black fruits, with the Cabernet Sauvignon lending structure, while the Malbec deepens the wine’s complexity. A fresh, herbaceous lift from the Merlot and the dark fruit and spice of Petit Verdot create a powerful yet elegant finish.

“Catharina reflects our desire to produce a classic red blend that can be enjoyed now or cellared for a decade,” explains Basson. “We’ve crafted a wine that balances velvety tannins, luscious fruit, and lingering complexity.”

Hanekom highlights a key vineyard strategy that has improved the estate’s red grape quality. “We selectively reduce yields by dropping underperforming bunches, ensuring the remaining fruit achieves full ripeness and complexity,” he says. “This canopy management and irrigation focus ensures each berry is rich with intense colour and flavour.”

Under Elunda Basson’s leadership, the Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc has earned significant recognition. The 2020 vintage was named one of the FNB Sauvignon Blanc SA Top 10 for 2021, and the 2022 vintage repeated this achievement in 2023. Basson’s appointment as Chairperson of Sauvignon Blanc South Africa further underscores her expertise and dedication to elevating South African Sauvignon Blanc to international acclaim.

The reimagined labels for The Black Swan and Catharina showcase Steenberg’s blend of history and innovation. The designs feature muted, nude-toned elegance that speaks to the estate’s premium positioning. Steenberg’s newly refined corporate identity inspires the Black Swan’s deep green label and Catharina’s regal purple hue. Embossed details, including a relief image of Steenberg’s historic wine cellar and a subtle die-line depicting the iconic Constantiaberg mountain range, symbolise the estate’s enduring legacy and sense of place.

“Our flagship labels celebrate the depth and refinement of these wines,” says Wiltshire. “They reflect the timeless values of quality and precision that have defined Steenberg since its founding.”

The newly labelled Steenberg Black Swan Sauvignon Blanc 2024 and Steenberg Catharina 2021 are now available from select retailers, at the Steenberg tasting room, and via the estate’s online store.