Flat Roof Manor Launches Low-Alcohol Rose

Building on the success of its low-alcohol Sauvignon Blanc Light, Flat Roof Manor has launched a Pinot Rosé Light with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of just 9%. As a result it contains 27% fewer kilojoules than the brand’s existing Pinot Rosé which it replaces.

A 100ml serving of the new Pinot Rosé Light contains only 292 kilojoules (70 Kcal) compared to the existing Pinot Rosé’s 399 kilojoules (95 Kcal).

The Flat Roof Manor range is produced on the well-known Uitkyk estate near Stellenbosch and is also made by Estelle Lourens, the estate’s wine maker of the past decade. Says Estelle: “The Sauvignon Blanc Light has very quickly found a niche for itself in the market and is selling so well that we felt inspired to attempt another light wine.

“Due to their popularity the market has been flooded with rosé wines and to stand out in such a crowd, you have to offer something special. We believe the Pinot Rosé Light does exactly that. It also distinguishes itself in that unlike many low-alcohol equivalents, it is full of character and flavour – a lively, zesty wine ideal for every occasion.”

The Pinot Rosé Light is a blend of 70% Pinotage and 30% Pinot Grigio. The wine was made in the traditional way: The Pinotage grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness, crushed and the juice left for two days on the skins before it was drawn off and fermentation continued.

Both the Pinot Grigio and the Pinotage were left for two months on the lees before the final blend was made up.

“I left the juice on the skins for two days which is longer than usual but I wanted a darker rosé to start with knowing that once the Pinot Grigio had been blended in, it would produce that seductive colour of a true rosé.”

Flat Roof Manor Pinot Rosé Light 2012 is available country wide and sells for R35 to R40 per bottle.