When it comes to wine, the design of the label is often as important as the liquid inside the bottle. To mark the release of its tenth vintage, Saurwein Wines sought to create a label that would celebrate both its location and the spirit of its winemaker.
WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied
The story of Saurwein Wines traces back to 17th-century Austria, where Jessica Saurwein’s ancestors crafted “sour wine” for the Emperor. Today, that legacy finds fresh expression across four carefully chosen cool-climate South African vineyard sites: Elandskloof, Hemel-en-Aarde, Elgin, and Stanford. The 2024 vintage, produced for the first time in the winery’s own cellar in Stanford, marks a milestone achievement in the decade-long journey of Saurwein Wines.
What distinguishes Saurwein in an increasingly crowded premium market is its commitment to storytelling. For Jessica, producing fine wine and advancing regenerative agriculture has always been more than a personal quest. Her vision is to create meaning beyond pleasure: delicious wines, paired with stories and labels that reflect their origin and character.
The artwork for Jessica’s first estate-made vintages – Nom Pinot Noir 2024, Om Pinot Noir 2024, and Chi Riesling 2025 – was created in collaboration with fine artist Isabella Kuijers, with help from designer Robyn de Toorn. Each label alludes to the aromas within the bottle, drawing connections between the wines and the natural flora and fauna of their vineyard surroundings.
Nom Pinot Noir takes its name from African mythology. Nom is short for nombulelo (gratitude, in Xhosa), and recalls Nomkhubulwane, an African goddess of agriculture who was once prayed to for rain, fertility, and abundance. The label of Nom Pinot Noir, which echoes the wine’s deep berry aromatics and layered flavour, features Proteas and Ericas from the surrounding mountains, with roses symbolising promise.
Om Pinot Noir draws its name from the sacred Om symbolising universal creation and peace. Its vineyards lie in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (“Heaven and Earth”), a serene landscape close to Jessica’s heart. The label depicts flora and fauna of the Babylonstoren mountain reserve that surrounds the vineyard, fostering the connection between land and wine.
Chi Riesling means “life force” and references Chiuta, an African rain god. Its final cuvée combines 80% grapes from the fertile Elgin Valley with 20% from the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, grown on the mountain slopes above Karwyderskraal dam. The apples on the label pay homage to the region’s long history of apple farming.
Vineyards aside, one thing is certain: Saurwein Wines is built on the belief that great wine is made through the fusion of personal narrative and uncompromising craft. | saurwein.co.za
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