ATLAS

In Greek mythology, Atlas sided with the Titans when they fought the Olympians during the Titanomachy, a series of battles between these two generations that lasted for 10 years. When the Titans were defeated, many of them were confined to Tartarus, a deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment and as a prison for the Titans.

Zeus, the leader of the Olympians and the god of thunder and the sky, however condemned Atlas to stand at the western edge of the Earth and hold up the sky on his shoulders for eternity.A common misconception today is that Atlas was forced to hold the Earth on his shoulders, but classical art shows Atlas holding the celestial spheres, not the terrestrial globe. This was reinforced in the 16th century by the developing usage of “atlas” to describe a corpus of terrestrial maps.For us, the use of the word Atlas is an ode to the Titan of perseverance. We too see ourselves entrusted with the responsibility on our shoulders to protect the character of the land in which our grapes grow, one we accept with glee. Atlas is also a reference to the different terrestrial maps, or terroirs, where our vineyards grow.

SWIFT

Swifts are part of a highly aerial family of birds called Apodidae and are among the fastest birds in the world. Our wine journey could be compared to that of a swift – while we might not always move at the speed of light (making good wine requires patience) we are constantly on the wing, exploring the many atlases of the Cape Winelands and its diverse terroirs.

ATLAS SWIFT = our responsibility to persevere, be agile and nimble, affording us the opportunity to make wines from numerous environments. Our winemaking prowess has always revolved around two grape varieties – Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

In 2019, our dreams became reality when the maiden vintage of Atlas Swift was born. All our wines are vinified in the same fashion, the only difference being the origin of the grapes, and are produced in very limited quantities due to the restrictions of their provenance.

Our Vineyard Sites

ATLAS SWIFT RANGE

Our “formal” range consists of five Chardonnays, each exploring five different origins in the Western Cape. We are self-confessed wine nerds, and with these wines we like to showcase our inner-geeky side! The Chardonnay grape is neutral in character but develops a unique identity when exposed to the influences of terroir, the use of oak and different winemaking techniques.The female warrior on each label represents her territory. She is feisty in portraying the unique characteristics of the respective terroirs and the resulting wine. It is this energy, radiating from each area, that we want to bring to life in each glass!

SHELTER RANGE

Our “informal” range recently expanded and now consists of four wines. No longer is the focus only on blending different components to create wines fit for everyday consumption, but also on exploring the identities of single-vineyard wines and single varietals. We can’t be wine nerds all the time, and this is where we let our hair down and have fun with the winemaking process until we find the perfect result. These wines are inspired by the five different terroirs of the Atlas Swift range, which can be seen as five pillars of strength to accommodate a haven, a shelter of sorts. They are moulded by a unison between self and soil, and will always aim to include origins within the Western Cape.