Swartland wines by MC Stander, pairing organic and biodynamic fruit with natural fermentation and skin contact Chenin Blanc.
The producer
MC Stander’s L’Equinox Wines is a Swartland project built from leased organic vines and fruit from organic or biodynamic growers. Stander studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Stellenbosch, worked for a decade in Paarl and the Swartland, and served as farm manager at Porseleinberg. The wines ferment naturally with a small amount of sulfur dioxide. To Maike and the Rest is Chenin Blanc with skin contact, while Low Drama Rosé combines Pinotage and Mourvèdre.
Known for
Natural Swartland Chenin and rosé
Notable facts
MC Stander launched L’Equinox in 2019.
His first vintage was made in Jurgen Gouws’s winery.
L’Equinox works with five growers across the Paardeberg.
Low Drama Rosé is 60% Pinotage and 40% Mourvèdre.
The story
The Biodynamics Course
While Stander was working as a winemaker at Joostenberg, Tyrell Myburgh sent him on a biodynamics course. The course introduced Stander to biodynamic farming, and the method later formed part of his approach to farming. L’Equinox works with growers whose vineyards are almost all farmed organically and or biodynamically, including five growers across the Paardeberg on decomposed granite soils. The course came before Stander launched L’Equinox in 2019 and before his first vintage was made in Jurgen Gouws’s winery.
From the atlas
L’Equinox Wines
MC Stander’s Swartland wines combine organic and biodynamic grower fruit with natural fermentation and skin contact Chenin Blanc.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Place
Swartland, South Africa
Main grapes
Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Mourvèdre
Styles
Chenin Blanc white and rosé
Farming
Leased organic vines and organic or biodynamic grower fruit
Cellar
Natural fermentations with a small amount of sulfur dioxide
The Producer
MC Stander studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Stellenbosch before spending a decade as a viticulturist and winemaker in Paarl and the Swartland. His career also included the farm manager role at Porseleinberg and winemaking positions at Lemberg, Antebellum and Joostenberg Wines.
Stander launched L’Equinox in 2019 and made the first vintage in Jurgen Gouws’s winery. The cellar uses natural fermentations and only a small amount of sulfur dioxide.
Place
L’Equinox works with five growers across the Paardeberg, where the vineyards sit on decomposed granite soils. Almost all are farmed organically and or biodynamically. The project also combines leased organic vines with fruit from organic or biodynamic growers.
Decomposed granite is weathered rock with a loose texture that allows water to move quickly through the soil. The grower network keeps Paardeberg fruit at the centre of the range while farming remains distributed across several vineyards.
Wines
The range includes To Maike and the Rest, a Chenin Blanc white made entirely from Chenin Blanc, and Low Drama Rosé, a rosé made from Pinotage and Mourvèdre. To Maike and the Rest uses skin contact and whole bunch fermentation. Together, the bottles place a natural style white beside a rosé made from two red grape varieties.
In The Glass
L’Equinox favours lighter extraction and limited skin contact for white wines. To Maike and the Rest opens with ripe fruit and dried peach. Chalky grip runs through the palate, which is salty, dry and clean.
Low Drama Rosé has 1.0 g/L residual sugar, pH 3.43 and total acidity of 4.5 g/L.
A Bottle To Understand It
Low Drama Rosé 2023 is the first bottle to open. It is 60% Pinotage and 40% Mourvèdre. Both varieties are whole bunch pressed into tank, then the wine completes malolactic fermentation and ageing in old 225 litre barrels.
Final Word
L’Equinox grew from five barrels to 17,000 bottles and six cuvées in three years.