Savage Wines
Duncan Savage developed a reputation for making profound, mineral-driven white wines with aging potential from interesting, exposed terroirs, and in 2011 he began his own project, Savage Wines, in tandem with his then-day job. The Savage Wines were met with great critical acclaim and in 2016 he made them his full-time endeavor. He buys grapes and leases vineyards with old varietals in interesting sites all over the Western Cape. His recently completed winery is an urban space in Salt River, Cape Town.
Stylistically he focuses on freshness and elegance, crafting wines that are restrained, with lower alcohols. He likes to pick early, looking for acidity, using whole clusters where appropriate, and old vines wherever possible.
Biography
Duncan Savage is among South African winemakers who celebrate old vineyards and approach making wines artisinally. Duncan launched Savage Wines in 2011 with a goal to produce classic wines that showcase refinement, purity and elegance, and are a true expression of site specific, unique Western Cape terroir. Prior to tending to the vines at Cape Point Vineyards, Duncan considered himself a surf-mad teenager more interested in wave patterns, evaluating wind direction, reading up on tides, and the weather.
When he was younger, he made an agreement with his father to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree in marketing and sales through the University of South Africa. But his mother, was a wine lover with a penchant for reds, and so he found his true calling. Duncan attended a Cape Wine Academy course, then enrolled at Elsenburg Agricultural College for viticulture and cellar technology. Duncan and his dad, who he refers to as a legend, now work side by side in the vineyards.
Duncan has since followed advice such as ‘trust your vineyards’, ‘no substitute for hard work’ and ‘follow the line’, which has led him to be awarded Winemaker of the Year by Tim Atkin, MW (2022), Winery of the Year and seven 5-star ratings by Platter’s (2022). A member of Cape Winemakers Guild, an invitation-only membership, Duncan is among leading winemakers in South Africa who are leaders in the art and science of winemaking. When Duncan’s not getting barreled (surfing), you might find him hanging with his mates, Adi Badenhorst, Eben Sadie, Martin Krajewski and Boela Gerber, around a fire drinking Romanée-Conti.
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