Black Pearl Vineyards is a winery owned and operated by the Nash family, who relocated from Maine in 1995 to South Africa. They make the wines in the vineyard, and the focus is on producing limited quantities of high-quality grapes. From berry to bottle, it is a complete hands-on family enterprise. Mary-Lou Nash is the chief winemaker, viticulturist, tractor driver, marketer, and general “Jill of all trades” at Black Pearl Vineyards.
The name “Black Pearl” was inspired by the fact that the vineyard sits on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, and Paarl Rock resembles a black pearl after it has rained, as well as the fact that black pearls also have true rarity value. Black Pearl Vineyards is un-irrigated, and the high trellising system, severe pruning, and canopy management are all managed to ensure low-yielding, stress-free, ripe fruit.
The vineyard sits on the western slope of Paarl Mountain, which is part of the Cape Floral kingdom. Above stretches Renosterveld, an indigenous flora of which only 2% remains in the country and which the family is conserving in this World Heritage area. You can typically find Renosterveld in shale-derived soils that have a high percentage of clay content. Shale bases soils form over shale rock parent material, developing from the deposition and compression of clay and silt in ancient inland lakes and seas.The diversity of bulb species in Renosterveld is staggering compared to anywhere else in the world.
The resultant wine from this property is genuinely terroir-driven. Mary-Lou hand planted the vineyards on Rhenosterkop farm and taught herself winemaking before becoming a Cape Wine Master.
The name “Black Pearl” was inspired by the fact that the vineyard sits on the slopes of Paarl Mountain, and Paarl Rock resembles a black pearl after it has rained, as well as the fact that black pearls also have true rarity value. Black Pearl Vineyards is un-irrigated, and the high trellising system, severe pruning, and canopy management are all managed to ensure low-yielding, stress-free, ripe fruit.
The vineyard sits on the western slope of Paarl Mountain, which is part of the Cape Floral kingdom. Above stretches Renosterveld, an indigenous flora of which only 2% remains in the country and which the family is conserving in this World Heritage area. You can typically find Renosterveld in shale-derived soils that have a high percentage of clay content. Shale bases soils form over shale rock parent material, developing from the deposition and compression of clay and silt in ancient inland lakes and seas.The diversity of bulb species in Renosterveld is staggering compared to anywhere else in the world.
The resultant wine from this property is genuinely terroir-driven. Mary-Lou hand planted the vineyards on Rhenosterkop farm and taught herself winemaking before becoming a Cape Wine Master.
