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Founded in 1997, West Cape Howe is now jointly owned by four Western Australian families. The winery's driving force is General Manager and Senior Winemaker Gavin Berry, who joined the team in 2004 and has accumulated over thirty vintages of winemaking experience. Under Gavin's leadership, the winery was named "Australia's Most Valuable Winery of 2016" by renowned Australian wine critic James Halliday, an honor that recognizes West Cape Howe's exceptional balance between quality and price.
The winery's logo features two golden seahorses facing each other, inspired by the early Dutch explorer's ship "Gulden Zeepaard" (meaning golden seahorse), symbolizing the spirit of exploration that "connects the New World and the Old World." This spirit is also reflected in the winery's winemaking philosophy—"to create harmonious, balanced wines with structure and flavor that people love."
West Cape Howe's wines are divided into three series. The top-tier Single Vineyard Series is made exclusively from grapes from the Langton Vineyard, showcasing the terroir of a single plot. The Region Range, on the other hand, uses grapes from multiple vineyards across the Great South, presenting the overall character of the region. The Cape to Cape Range, however, draws from a wider range of grape sources, encompassing the entire Western Australian wine region, and is positioned as an easy-drinking, fruit-laden everyday wine. The Pink Moscato Spritz featured in this article belongs to the Cape to Cape series, aiming to provide consumers with a joyful sparkling wine that requires no deep thought and can be enjoyed anytime.
Region
The flagship vineyard of West Cape Howe, Langton Vineyard, is located in Mount Barker and was established in 1978. It boasts one of the oldest vineyards in the Great South of Australia, and this vineyard is the heart of the winery's Single Vineyard series. In addition, the winery selects high-quality grapes from Frankland River, Porongurup, and Perth Hills, providing a diverse and rich source of raw materials for the Cape to Cape series.
In viticulture and management, the winery maintains a deep respect for the land. In spring, the team conducts rigorous soil chemical analysis to precisely determine the type and amount of fertilizer to apply. In late summer, seaweed ash solution is sprayed on the leaves to help regulate temperature and resist sun stress. For many years, the winery has adhered to a policy of not using herbicides or pesticides, relying solely on sulfur and copper-based mildew for pest and disease control, combined with canopy management and ventilation/shading. After harvest, sheep graze in the vineyards, grazing on weeds and providing natural organic matter, creating a sustainable ecosystem. Regarding energy, the winery installed solar panels in 2013, effectively reducing its dependence on the power grid by 25%.
Notably, the Cape to Cape series accounts for 60% of the winery's total production and is West Cape Howe's most important product line. This series uses lightweight, environmentally friendly packaging, saving 21% on glass usage, embodying the winery's commitment to environmental sustainability.
Winemaking
The winemaking process of Cape to Cape Pink Moscato Spritz revolves around a core objective: to preserve the natural aromas and fresh fruit flavors of the Moscato grapes to the greatest extent possible.
After harvesting, the grapes are gently pressed and then aged in a chilled environment. This process ensures that delicate aromas such as rose petals and muscat are not lost due to high temperatures. This wine uses the vat method for secondary fermentation. Unlike the traditional Champagne method, which involves secondary fermentation in the bottle, the vat method is completed in pressurized stainless steel tanks. This method more fully preserves the characteristic floral and fruity aromas of the Moscato variety while imparting a light and delicate effervescence to the wine. When fermentation reaches the target alcohol level, the winemaker stops fermentation by cooling and microfiltration. This preserves the natural sugars in the grape juice, creating the wine's sweet and rich base. The final "Spritz" effervescence adds a refreshing and lively touch to the overall flavor profile.
Tasting Note
This Pink Moscato Spritz presents a bright, pale pink color with a hint of salmon, pleasing to the eye.
The aroma is remarkably exuberant, bursting forth with the typical Moscato notes of rose and muscat candy, followed by a sweet, turkey-like fragrance. Touches of citrus and sweet spices add further complexity. On the palate, sweet fruit unfolds on the tongue, with a light, refreshing texture swirling around the surface. The light acidity perfectly balances the sweetness, preventing it from becoming cloying. The finish reveals passion fruit and guava notes, leaving a bright, tropical fruit aftertaste.
