Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the heart of South Africa’s most famous wine region Stellenbosch, Ken Forrester vineyards are commonly referred to as the ‘Home of Chenin Blanc’.
Ken Forrester represents the true pioneering spirit of the post-apartheid South African wine industry. Drawing on the examples of top Loire whites, he has used his uniquely placed Chenin vines to maximum effect and has single-handedly led a Chenin Blanc quality revolution. As a result these wines have achieved iconic status worldwide.
At the top end there is the beautifully balanced barrel-fermented Chenin FMC, made from fruit grown at Ken’s Stellenbosch vineyard, and the silky fine red The Gypsy, made from low yielding vines. An exciting range of wines from a great winemaker with something to suit every price point and palate.
Ken Forrester’s philosophy has always been to create a range of handcrafted, individually made wines that suitably compliment a wide variety of food styles.
Thorne & Daughters is widely acknowledged to be one of the forerunners of the ‘New Wave’ wine movement in South Africa. Since 2013, John and Tasha Thorne-Seccombe have been producing innovative wines sourced from selected growers from right across the Western Cape. In the early 2000s, winemaking took the couple around the world, and they spent a few years in the UK, where John studied viticulture at Plumpton College.
Back in South Africa, a happy encounter with two similarly trailblazing young winemakers, Chris Alheit and Peter-Allan Finlayson, helped to lay the foundations for the first vintage of Thorne & Daughters. John and Tasha shared a small cellar with Chris and Peter-Allan until they later moved to rented cellar space at Gabriëlskloof, where the wines are made today.
For anyone who likes their wines on the sweeter side, deserves to have a delicious and well-crafted option, and Jam Jar is the solution.
Located in the heart of the beautiful Robertson valley – a valley of wines and roses – lies Bon Courage Estate, home to some of South Africa’s finest wines and recognized both locally and internationally for their exceptional quality.
The stately Cape Dutch homestead dates back to 1818 and the estate has enjoyed the attention and dedication of three generations of the Bruwer family since 1927.
The Robertson wine region is today renowned for wines of great depth and concentration, a result of the ideal soil and climatic conditions that prevail in this region. Three rivers runs through the estate and have, over the years, deposited a variety of different soil types on the farm. Due to this diversification of soil and microclimates, a wide range of grape varietals can thrive in the same area. André Bruwer – the owner and viticulturist – has acknowledged the basic maxim (truth) that good wine is mainly created in the soil and has, therefore, put much effort into matching the correct cultivar to the ideal soil type.
Although ”tradition” plays a big role at Bon Courage Estate, careful but extensive modernization has allowed André and his son Jacques to combine the best of traditional methods with those of the modern age. This combination allows them greater freedom and flexibility when creating the present and future Bon Courage wines.
Today, André and Jacques combine their experience, skills, patience and personal dedication into producing a selection of the very finest wines.
The earliest archaeological evidence of barbecue (Braai) is found in South Africa. On September 24th of each year the country celebrates Heritage Day, which in 2007 was renamed Braai4Heritage as a testament to its cultural importance in South Africa. Traditional braais are made with wood, without the use of gas and consist of a plethora of meat ranging from steaks and boerewors (sausage) to chicken and lamb. However, over the years fish and side dishes have also become standard fixtures. While there are many different ways to braai, one underlying trait remains—the camaraderie of sipping wine around the open flame enjoying the company of friends as the meal cooks. Production is overseen by celebrated winemaker Bruwer Raats (proprietor and winemaker of Raats Family Wines).
Gary and Kathy Jordan have been making world-class wines at this top wine estate since 1993 on a farm with a history going back over 300 years. Together this husband and wife team is a phenomenon. Gary’s parents, Ted and Sheelagh, bought the 164 hectare Stellenbosch property in 1982, and embarked on an extensive replanting programme, specialising in classic varieties suited to the different soils and slopes.
Unique by nature’s design, the Jordan slopes face North, South, East and West, with vineyards lying at differing altitudes from 160 to 410 meters above sea level. The vineyards benefit from their close proximity to both the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and enjoy a mild, Mediterranean climate with a maritime influence.
The Jordan philosophy combines the vineyards’ natural assets with innovative management, creating a profound expression of terroir. Jordan Wine Estate – the perfect Synergy between Soul and Soil.
At the centre of the Cape Winelands lies the Simonsberg mountain, a fynbos-rich massif, home to exceptional vineyards since the 17th century. It’s on the southern slopes, with unrivalled views over False Bay to Table Mountain, that you will find Tokara’s home vineyards and olive groves.
Tokara is a picture perfect destination which offers visitors a unique combination of award-winning wines, a range of olive oils and a five year old pot still brandy. The estate boasts a fine dining restaurant which is ranked among South Africa’s best and an informal delicatessen. The winery also has fine artwork displayed throughout the property for the enjoyment of its patrons.
Babylonstoren is one of South Africa’s oldest Cape Dutch farms, dating back to 1692. It has a fruit and vegetable garden of beauty and diversity, unique accommodation, fine food and a sense of wellbeing. Their wines are produced in a state of the art winery and are made to showcase the soils and climate where the grapes are grown. Babylonstoren have 88 hectares under vine and produce 13 grape varieties with their highest vines – Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – lying against the Simonsberg mountain at 600 metres above sea level.
Their wines are best exemplified by the Babylonstoren logo which consists of the pipe (representing the farmer) the flower (representing the garden) and the bird (representing nature). It is a combination of the very essence of Babylonstoren – keeping things simple and as true to the earth as possible.
Long recognized for producing world-class wines, Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the traditional dedication to the art of winemaking continues under the guidance of Hannes Myburgh, eighth generation custodian of this seventeenth-century national monument.
Meerlust, with its historic manor house, classic wine cellar, family cemetery, dovecote and bird sanctuary is situated fifteen kilometers south of Stellenbosch, with the blue crescent of False Bay a mere five kilometers away. Wines are only made from grapes grown on the Estate which is uniquely positioned for the production of wines with exceptional complexity and character.
In the summertime, ocean breezes and evening mists roll in from the coast to cool the vineyards. The grapes ripen slowly, thus achieving full, concentrated varietal flavours. The soils consist of predominantly deep, well drained Hutton and Clovelly soil types, affording the vines excellent drought resistance and an ideal substrata for producing concentrated, complex wines.
Spice Route Winery’s name reflects what the vineyard, the wines and the people are all about. It recalls the ancient mariners of the 15th century braving the tempestuous waters of the ‘Cape of Storms’ as they plied their trade bringing exotic Eastern spices to Western Europe along the so-called ‘Spice Route’. (The view of Table Mountain from the Spice Route vineyards takes the imagination back to the scene which would have greeted those bygone sailors as they rounded the Cape Peninsula). In much the same way Charles Back went sailing into largely uncharted waters on his route to realising the viticultural potential of this part of the Swartland wine region.
When Charles Back started the Spice Route wine journey, the farm did not have a cellar, so an old tobacco drying shed was converted into a fermentation and maturation cellar, adapted to the type style of winemaking required to handle Swartland fruit with care. His venture’s name is equally evocative of the style of wines being made: rich, complex yet infinitely enjoyable, with ripe fruit of the finest quality skilfully enhanced through careful oaking… much as carefully selected spices bring out the flavours in a dish.
Wine is made in the vineyard, and requires a gentle hand to guide it. The Spice Route cellar is in the heart of the Swartland region, near a town called Malmesbury with the first harvest to pass through the cellar back in 1998.
Established in 1693, the Fairview cellar, with its spectacular view of Table Mountain, lies on the southwestern slopes of Paarl in the Cape of Good Hope. South Africa’s most awarded winemaker – Charles Back II, is the third generation of the Back family to make wine at Fairview. With their vineyards located in the leading coastal grape producing areas, where geographic and climatic diversity allow the Fairview team to craft a range of truly distinctive wines, which complement their range of award-winning artisanal cheeses.
Groote Post is a historic 18th century farm on the Cape’s West Coast where winemaking traditions have been revived by the Pentz family. Unique aspects and cool climatic conditions of the Darling Hills yield superlative fruit and their wines are produced to reflect the uniqueness of their vineyard site.
Groote Post has always been best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, but in recent years its other wines, notably Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinot Noir, have gained greater recognition from its widespread client base, and many of their wines having received a steady stream of accolades and awards since their maiden 1999 vintage.
In addition to its excellent wines, Groote Post offers much to delight, including nature walks, farm drives (booking essential), picnics and the award-winning Hilda’s Kitchen restaurant. The restaurant is situated in an 18th century restored manor house, originally Klawer Valley farm, now a national monument, and serves modern country cooking to a very high standard. The farm also forms part of the famous West Coast Spring Flower Route.
