To achieve maximum quality and potential, the vines at Sorrenberg are closely planted on a single fruiting wire. Foliage wires are used to achieve good berry exposure. The vines were planted in 1985 and the first vintage was in 1989. The main varietials at Sorrenberg are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay with smaller quantities of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Semillon and Pinot Noir for the blends that the winery is well known for.
The grapes are processed at the vineyard and traditional methods are used in the wine making process with fermentation being carried out in French Barriques. The policy at Sorrenberg is to produce hand made wines, the low production allows individual attention to be given to each barrel of wine thereby ensuring maximum quality and flavour
The style of Gamay Sorrenberg produce is a combination of Burgundian and Beaujolais techniques. There is 10% Pinot Noir used in the blend. Half of the Gamay was cold macerated where the fruit is picked cold, crushed and left to soak for 4 days before fermentation starts. Of the rest, 20% of the fruit is left whole in the ferment. Fermentation is for 2 weeks on skins, after which the wine is pressed and matured in oak for eleven months. The sultry Barmutha Cabernet Sauvignon/ Cabernet Franc/ Merlot from Sorrenberg was an inspiration stemming from the hot year of 2003. Whilst this complex blended red was a deviation from the usual Sorrenberg finesse, it stands as an interesting and titillating regional red, and an excellent winter wine.
