Ever had a wine that feels like it’s sharing secrets from afar? The 2022 Palomino from Swartberg Wingerde does just that. Whispering Spanish history, singing with a South African accent, and dancing barefoot across your palate in the Swartberg sun.
Every great wine has a storyteller behind it, and for Holism, that storyteller is winemaker Rüdiger Gretschel. He’s a seasoned pro in the South African wine world, with time at Boekenhoutskloof, Krone, and Reyneke under his belt. But instead of staying in polished cellars and safe estates, Rüdiger went chasing something wilder, more untamed, and packed with soul.
Palomino, originally from Spain’s sun-baked Andalusian vineyards, is best known as the star grape of Sherry. But here’s where it gets exciting: transplanted into the Swartberg soils, this grape tells a brand new story. South Africa’s old vines give Palomino a wild streak, less about fortified wine traditions and more about freshness, texture, and purity. The Swartberg soils take this old-world grape, shake things up, and give us something totally unique, lean, textured, and buzzing with energy.
Crisp, clean, and quietly confident. Think pear skin, quince, and green almond, all wrapped up in a delicate, almost chalky texture.
The 2022 Holism Palomino isn’t here to show off! it’s all about easy-drinking joy, a splash of history, and just the right amount of personality to charm both wine geeks and casual sippers.
''At the end of the day, you really can’t make a wrong choice.
As long as you pay attention to what it is that you don’t like about a wine
each bottle will get you closer to what you do like.
Take it one glass at a time!''