INTRODUCING A NEW VINTAGE OF LA MOTTE’S INNER-CIRCLE LA FAMILLE SAUVIGNON BLANC We all have a go-to wine and at La Motte, the obvious white choice is the popular La Motte Sauvignon Blanc. This versatile wine joins each and every occasion and celebration on the estate. No gathering of friends or family goes without a few glasses of the refreshing white being poured and pretty pale-yellow glasses being raised.
“The La Motte Sauvignon Blanc has become such a part of the inner circle that we had to give it a little nickname”, says Cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche. “Just like we do with those we hold dear.” So, when you see that your favourite La Motte Sauvignon Blanc is now called La Famille, know that it is because it is a wine with a family that treasures it and loves to share it.
La Motte is delighted that this wine’s popular style as well as its new name and family status have resonated with fans so well in 2025, that this year, the new vintage is being released two months earlier than usual. Luckily, the 2026 harvest was an early one too and the La Motte team is ready to introduce the 2026 La Motte La Famille Sauvignon Blanc!
Grapes for the 2026 La Famille Sauvignon Blanc originate from vineyards in several areas of the Cape Winelands with the combination of Franschhoek (25%), Stellenbosch (50%), Cape South Coast (20%) and Darling (5%) terroir contributing freshness, elegance and delightful fruit.
The harvest started two weeks earlier than usual with the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes picked on 12 January. Despite the devastation of the early January wildfires, La Motte vineyards were not affected and smoke taint has not been an issue for any of the new vintage wines. Grapes destined for the estate’s popular Sauvignon Blanc were harvested at between 18° and 23° Balling to capture natural acidity and produce fuller, riper flavours. To enhance complexity, the wine was left on the lees after fermentation and blended with 4% Semillon.
In the glass, the wine displays a hue of delicate straw with a subtle green tinge. The nose offers aromas of intense granadilla, lime and nuances of citrus blossom that follow through on the palate with fruity gooseberry and apple as well as herbaceous wild grass and lemongrass. The beautiful medium-bodied mouthfeel lingers with a refined mineral finish, reminiscent of oyster shell salinity.
Enjoy as a solo sipper or pour a glass with seafood – from freshly grilled fish to more luxurious crayfish, often-challenging and spicy Asian flavours, Sauvignon Blanc’s natural partner, goat’s cheese or a choice of vegetables – fresh in salads, grilled in side dishes or even in soups!
