Unveiling the Fairview Altesse 2024: A Darling Revival Where Terroir Reigns

Fairview has once again redefined South African winemaking with the release of Fairview Altesse 2024, the first white wine in its highly regarded Regional Revival Range. A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Sémillon, Altesse captures the maritime energy and high-altitude freshness of Darling’s iconic terroir. With its name derived from an anagram of Altitude and Sea, Altesse is more than a wine — it’s a celebration of place, climate, and character.

A Classic Blend, Reimagined

At the heart of Altesse is a harmonious interplay between crisp Sauvignon Blanc and textural Sémillon.

“This wine is a delightful exploration of flavours, textures, and aromas — a testament to the extraordinary cool-climate West Coast vineyards we are privileged to farm,”.

says Charles Back, third-generation owner of Fairview

Inspired by Bordeaux’s great whites yet rooted in Darling’s unique microclimate, Altesse is a blend of tradition and innovation.

A Label that Tells a Story

The wine’s striking label, reminiscent of a vintage postage stamp, features a lighthouse standing sentinel over ocean-swept vineyards — a visual homage to the cool Atlantic breezes and rolling hills that shape its flavour. It’s an evocative symbol of a place where terroir reigns supreme.

Vineyard Excellence in Every Drop

According to cellarmaster Anthony de Jager, Altesse is produced from Fairview’s best vineyard sites at Alexanderfontein and Lanner Hill. These dryland-farmed blocks benefit from ancient, lime-rich red clay soils and prolonged ripening due to ocean-cooled temperatures. The result? A white wine with superb acidity, aromatic complexity, and longevity.

Meticulous Winemaking

Harvested at dawn to preserve freshness, the grapes were whole-bunch pressed with precision. The Sauvignon Blanc component underwent fermentation and 9-month lees ageing in stainless steel, while the Sémillon was fermented and aged in 500L French oak barrels for the same period, adding depth and roundness.

Tasting Notes

Fairview Altesse 2024 pours a pale straw with a hint of green, enticing with notes of white peach, lime zest, green fig, orange blossom, and a saline sea spray lift. The palate is lively yet elegant — bursting with citrus-driven energy from Sauvignon Blanc, rounded by Sémillon’s richness and minerality. It finishes long, salty, and refreshingly clean.

Food Pairing

This wine begs for food:

• Grilled West Coast fish with salsa verde
• Lemon butter prawns
• Creamy seafood risotto
• Roast chicken or aged cheese

Its verve and complexity make it an ideal companion to layered, flavour-rich dishes.

Price & Availability

R190 per bottle.

Available at the Fairview cellar door, select fine wine merchants, or online at:
Buy Fairview Altesse 2024

The Regional Revival Range: Old World Meets Cape Flair

Fairview’s Regional Revival Range reinterprets iconic European wine styles with a South African twist, showcasing site-expressive, small-batch winemaking. The range now includes four standout wines:

• Fairview Altesse 2024 – A white Bordeaux-style blend with Darling maritime zest.
• Fairview Homtini 2022 – An Italian-inspired blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Shiraz, honouring family roots and the pioneering spirit.
• Fairview Extraño 2021 – A Rioja-styled red bursting with Spanish flair, combining Tempranillo, Grenache, Shiraz, and Cinsault.
• Fairview Caldera 2022 – A classic GSM (Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre) blend inspired by the Rhône, expressive of the Cape’s sun-soaked terrain.

Each wine in the range is crafted with story, place, and personality — and Fairview Altesse 2024 is no exception. With its cool-climate charm, it offers a refreshing adventure in every glass.

Raise a glass to terroir. Raise a glass to Altesse.