The First Lady range of wines are a tribute to Norma Ratcliffe. The founder and first winemaker at Warwick estate and of the first women to make wine in South Africa. Cabernet Sauvignon is the first wine made under the Warwick label. It is fitting that this is the best known and most popular wine from the estate.
The First Lady range of wines are a tribute to Norma Ratcliffe. The founder and first winemaker at Warwick estate and of the first women to make wine in South Africa. Cabernet Sauvignon is the first wine made under the Warwick label. It is fitting that this is the best known and most popular wine from the estate.
Brand
Warwick
Warwick emerged on the forefront of South Africa’s wine scene in 1964 when Stan and Norma Ratcliffe bought the estate and started developing the land with an extensive focus on the classic Bordeaux varieties: Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Through determination and commitment, Norma Ratcliffe became one of the Cape’s first female winemakers – and one of its most illustrious wine personalities, whose legacy is immortalised in the Warwick “First Lady” range.
The first wine under the Warwick label was released in 1984, then named “La Femme Bleu” – “Blue Lady” as it is known today. Two years later, in 1986, the Warwick Trilogy – a three varietal Bordeaux-style blend – was released and has since been recognised as a truly iconic wine, with multiple vintages adorning some of the greatest wine lists in the world. Throughout the years, Warwick’s wines have won many awards, firmly establishing the brand as a South African icon.