Momento Wines | Bot River

Marelise Niemann, winemaker and founder of Momento wines, has been making wine at well-known South African producer Beaumont Wines since 2007. In her free time she has been travelling all over the world to Spain, Portugal, France and the US in search of knowledge and inspiration for her own remarkable micro-bottled wines. Marelise’s travels have inspired her to explore the individuality of South Africa’s soils and vineyards and to embrace new methods such as open concrete tanks, whole bunches and natural yeasts.

Her first vintage in 2013 was from two barrels of Grenache Noir and her love affair with the grape has deepened; she now works with all three Grenache varieties having added Grenache Blanc to the repertoire in 2019.  Now based at Anysbos farm next door to Gabrielskloof - where she spent four years alongside Crystallum and Thorne & Daughters - Marelise is becoming increasingly known as the champion of the grape variety.

The Grenaches Noir and Gris have become critically acclaimed and prized examples over the past few vintages, as has the outlier of the range, a Tinta Barocca made in a style akin to high-end Pinot Noir. 

Marelise’s fascination with Grenache was stirred by her time in the Priorat region in Spain, where, along with Eben Sadie, she was inspired by how the old vine fruit was produced in such a fresh and vibrant way. She returned to South Africa determined seek out old vine Grenache.

Marelise works with vines from all corners of the Western Cape, searching for grape parcels that truly express the region and soil it stands in; mostly from older and sometimes dryland bushvines. Her winemaking approach is gentle and ‘hands-off’, respecting the grape and its place, and allowing the wine to express its own character and origin.

Momento are at the apex of the current thrilling revolution in the South African wine scene. Tiny, local and genuinely hand crafted.

MOMENTO WINES