Nativo wines are the creation and the success of the enthusiastic duo, Billy and Penny Hughes of The Hughes family wines.

Billy, who originates from Argentina, recently started to make wine, which has been his dream since 1990 when he settled in the Cape.

The story starts when in 2000 Billy and Penny bought a 57-hectare wheat farm outside Riebeek West overlooking the Kasteelberg mountains. They planted 27-hectare under vine and besides growing grapes for his own wines he sells his excess to an eager group of respected winemakers.

Billy makes both a white, an excellent Viognier, and a red which is a blend of predominantly Rhone varieties with the addition of our local Pinotage. Penny assists Billy with the all important role of marketing and administrating the brand.

The Rhone varieties planted are Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Viognier and Grenache as they tend to do well in the warm climate and type of soil on the farm. Other varieties planted include Pinotage and Merlot.

The vines receive no irrigation and rely solely on winter rains and natural moisture in the summer. The vines are cared for by viticulturalist Kevin Watt who follows sustainable organic farming practises.

It's pleasing to know that no chemical fertilisers and pesticides are used. This is largely due to the warm breezy climate and dry land farming techniques. Organic farming is not easy and demands constant vigilance and ongoing application of new methods based on trial and error. However each successive vintage allows for the Nativo team to gain more knowledge which results in better management and control of their vineyards.

One of the positive results of their organic farming practise is that the berry develops strong healthy wild yeasts which means they don't have to use commercial yeasts to induce fermentation.

Billy who regards himself as a 'wine designer' rather than a winemaker states: "This is intergral to the development of flavours and other characteristics that give a wine its site-specific signature."

Billy's first wine was the Nativo 2004 red blend. Each vintage of this blend is based on Shiraz with additions of varying amounts of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Viognier, Pinotage and Merlot. The result is an intergrated and well-balanced wine that features dark fruit flavours and soft tannins with a distinctive minerally character.

Last week Billy and Penny hosted a vertical tasting of the last four vintages of the Nativo Red (2005, 2006, 2007 and the 2008). We were at the Foodbarn Restaurant in Noordhoek, where each wine was skilfully matched to a delicious lunch menu prepared by Chef Franck Dangereux.

Billy can be proud of his achievement as all the wines displayed excellent balance and complexity and even the 2005 being the second vintage showed it could mature further.

I loved them all but the 2006 was outstanding. Fleshy aromas of black currants and stewed prunes with a lovely warm mouth feel of silky spicy flavours of dark berry fruit, which glide gently towards the soft tannins on the finish.

Enjoy with a hearty waterblommetjie and lamb stew or on its own and remember to buy a few bottles to age as you won't be disappointed!

Expect to pay: R91.

To order this, contact Wine Concepts.