Testalonga El Bandito

Swartland, South Africa

Testalonga was started by husband and wife, Craig and Carla Hawkins, in 2008. After many years of traveling the world making wine, they settled in the Swartland region of South Africa. They source grapes from like-minded winemakers who farm organically, dry-farmed, old vineyards, bottling under the El Bandito and Baby Bandito labels. The winemaking is carried with minimal manipulation – basically no additives or corrections in the cellar, no fining, natural fermentations, and minimal to no sulphur before bottling. In 2015, they purchased 4 hectares land on the Northern mountains of the region, planting the first vines in 2018 - this new project is called Bandits Kloof. The farm is planted with Mediterranean grape varieties - Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Frappato, Maccabeu. These wines will land in Hong Kong sometimes soon!