Testalonga I Wish I Was A Ninja Pet Nat

After travelling extensively in Portugal and Austria learning his craft, Craig Hawkins returned to South Africa and became the winemaker at top Swartland estate Lammershoek. Craig now makes his own Testalonga wines from various small, organic vineyard sites in Swartland and makes everything naturally, with as little intervention as possible.

I Wish I was a Ninja is a pet-nat made from Colombard, from a tiny block close to Lammershoek (the owner doesn’t farm it, so he allows Craig to look after the vines). Planted in 1994, this vineyard has become very important for Craig as it provides grapes with consistently low pHs, which is crucial for the acidity in this cuvee.

Aromatic and laser-bright, it’s “like lemonade for grown-ups.” Voluptuous frothy bubbles with flavours of citrus, pear and a little nougat, this is off-dry and far too smashable (good job it’s lower in ABV).

“The name came about whilst we were bottling the wine in harvest, and we got onto the topic of Ninjas. The photo was taken by me in the pool of good friend Paul Jordaan, during one of many Swartland braais. I knew then that the photo would be my label as I think it captures the essence of what I want the people to feel like when they drink this wine.”