In episode 203 of The Drinking Hour podcast, host David Kermode travels to the far end of the Stellenbosch region, where the Indian and Atlantic ocean collide, to meet Mike Dawson, winemaker at Journey’s End.
After talking through some of the unique climate and soil types of the region, Dawson explains just what ‘fynbos’ is and why the term appears in many South African wine tasting notes. Dawson also provides some insight into just why the plants found within fynbos are so important to winemaking – from supporting bee populations to providing Journey’s End wines with a distinct herbal note.
The pair go on to cover the varietals grown within the estate before Dawson explains the name behind one of the most popular wines for Journey’s End, The Cape Doctor. The blend is named after the strong southeasterly prevailing wind, which can often gust upwards of 60 mph clearing the smog and ‘blowing the moisture and humidity out of the grapes’, according to Dawson.
The Griffin, whose name comes from the family crest of the Gabb family, owners of Journey’s End, is next up for discussion. Dawson touches on the innovative techniques used in the production of this particular wine including intracellular fermentation, which he labels as a ‘cowboy style of winemaking’ that involves leaving the wines in a sealed stainless-steel tank for up to 15 days.
In the second half of the episode, Kermode and Dawson also cover some of the estate’s white wines, including the popular Destination Chardonnay and Ad Infinitum, Dawson’s pet project blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Later topics include the work Journey’s End has done within the community (such as setting up soup kitchens and serving 7 million meals since 2021), the future of South African wine and Dawson’s desert island wine.
Discover more episodes of The Drinking Hour with David Kermode here.
