The Giant Periwinkle
ザ・ジャイアント・ペリウィンクル
Cool-climate, sea-salt-tinged Sauvignon Blanc from the Agulhas coast.
About The Giant Periwinkle
The Giant Periwinkle is a boutique winery in the Elim ward of the Cape Agulhas wine district, South Africa's coolest and most southerly wine region, and a member of the Agulhas Wine Triangle. Winemaker Pierre Rabie, previously a lawyer in Cape Town, planted his first vines near Bredasdorp in 2009 and made his first vintage in 2011, starting as a garagiste operation in rented cellar space. The winery is now based at South Cape Vineyards near Baardskeerdersbos, run together with partners Karen van Helden (viticulture) and Robert Stelzner (marketing). The name recalls the alikreukel — the giant periwinkle, a large edible sea snail Rabie spotted while diving off the Cape Agulhas coast near Suiderstrand. Guided by a non-interventionist philosophy of hand-sorted fruit, whole-bunch fermentation and minimal filtration, Rabie lets the salty, wind-swept, cool-climate terroir speak, built on the region's naturally high acidity and low pH. The compact range centres on Sauvignon Blanc — the lightly wooded Blanc Fumé and unwooded Wind Scorpion — alongside the Kelp Forest Syrah and Sun Spider Pinotage. In 2020 Rabie also launched a second, magnum-only label called Koueberg Wines.
Who Is This For?
For those curious about South Africa's extreme cool-climate wines and the salty, mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc styles of the Agulhas coast.
Wines of The Giant Periwinkle
No cuvées registered yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the name "The Giant Periwinkle" mean?
- It refers to the alikreukel, a large edible sea snail that winemaker Pierre Rabie spotted while diving off the Cape Agulhas coast near Suiderstrand.
- Where are The Giant Periwinkle's vineyards located?
- In the Elim ward of the Cape Agulhas wine district, one of South Africa's coolest and most southerly wine-growing areas, near Baardskeerdersbos.
- What wines does The Giant Periwinkle make?
- A small range built around Sauvignon Blanc — the lightly wooded Blanc Fumé and the unwooded Wind Scorpion — plus the Kelp Forest Syrah and Sun Spider Pinotage.
- What is the winemaking philosophy at The Giant Periwinkle?
- A non-interventionist approach — hand-sorted grapes, whole-bunch fermentation and minimal filtration — that lets the region's naturally high acidity and maritime character define each wine.