Soil: granite
Average Age of Vines: 19 years
Farming: organic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: whole cluster, direct press, 8 day spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, malolactic fermentation
Aging: in foudres
Fining: none
Filtration: light
Added S02: minimal

Testalonga was started by husband and wife, Craig and Carla Hawkins, in 2008. After many years of traveling the world making wine (Matassa, Terroir Al Limit, Dirk Niepoort, and many others), they settled in the Swartland region of South Africa and made 2 barrels of a macerated Chenin (the first orange wine made in South Africa!)

The winemaking is with minimal manipulation – basically no additives or corrections in the cellar, no fining, natural fermentations, and minimal to no sulphur before bottling.