For over 300 years Rust en Vrede has stood peacefully among the vineyards of Stellenbosch, with the original farm buildings built between 1780 and 1825. This prestigious estate was purchased by the Engelbrecht family almost 35 years ago, since when they have specialised in producing only red wine with the focus on Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot. These are wines with all the hallmarks of complexity and balance, as well as a sense of place which reflects their heritage. Many accolades have been bestowed upon the estate, including Rust en Vrede Estate Wine being chosen by President Nelson Mandela to be served at the Nobel Peace Prize dinner and hosting the Queen of Denmark for a lunch at the Manor House. Rust en Vrede was nominated as the first South African red wine in the Top 100 Wines of the World and went on to repeat this achievement for four consecutive years.
The estate is now run by Jean Engelbrecht (pictured above) and the winemaker is Coenie Snyman. An outstanding fine dining restaurant opened at the end of 2007 in Rust en Vrede’s original cellar, a cellar which is a registered National Monument.
Guardian Peak is one of the new generation of South African wineries producing wines that combine traditional body and structure with New World exuberance. It is owned by Jean Engelbrecht of Rust en Vrede, and as you would expect with this larger-than-life character, the wines are strong, positive examples of their varietals and location. The aim is to introduce more people to the fascinating lifestyle and culture of wine.
With the opening of the Guardian Peak Restaurant, fine wine, superb food and magnificent panoramic views are assured on any visit to the winery. Jean Engelbrecht’s philosophy for Guardian Peak, both the wine and restaurant is very much focused on terroir and the relationship between the land, the wine and the food of the region.
Donkiesbaai is on the West Coast, the name an eternal snub to the Englishman Sir Rufane Donkin, one-time Governor of the Cape Colony, and the motivation behind the name Donkin Bay. Which the Afrikaners nicknamed Donkiesbaai (Donkey’s Bay) after the Anglo-Boer War. Donkiesbaai has been the holiday home to four generations of the Rust en Vrede Engelbrecht’s since 1873.
The grapes for the Pinot Noir come from the highest block of Pinot in the country – right at the top of the Witzenberg Mountain range, while those for the Steen and Hooiwijn come from the DE Tol farm situated on the top of the Piekenierskloof Pass.
Translated, DeMorgenzon means simply ‘the morning sun’ and was so named because it is the first part of the Stellenboschkloof Valley to see the sun due to its high altitude and aspect.
Famous for their ‘Maestro’ blends and Reserve Chenin Blanc; since 2008 Baroque music has been piped into the vineyards all day, every day. The effects of sound and music on plant growth is an intriguing subject, the energy of the sound waves rather than the sounds themselves serving to stimulate and nurture the growing vines. A number of experiments have taken place over time which assess these claims and the effects, though in their statistical infancy, point towards an increase in vigour, root growth and general vine health. Once the harvest has completed and the wines have been placed into barrel, music is again streamed throughout DeMorgenzon’s cellars, surrounding the wines in rich sound waves, permeating the oak and steel as they travel, with every single note.
Nowhere else in South Africa is the marriage of music and the fruit of the vine taken so seriously, no doubt influenced by owners Wendy and Hylton Appelbaum (who was responsible for the creation of Classic FM South Africa back in 1997).
Through his many travels around the globe Ernie Els has been exposed to and appreciated some of the world’s greatest wines, a developing interest which inevitably led in one direction; in 1999 the concept of Ernie Els Wines was born. As one of South Africa’s leading ambassadors and most recognizable of faces in the world of sport, it was fitting that Ernie should choose Stellenbosch to produce his wines, with vineyards located high up on the northern slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. The stunning new winery opened at the end of 2004.
With the help of award-winning winemaker Louis Strydom, they produced the maiden 2000 vintage of Ernie Els – a ‘classic’ Bordeaux blend. The intention from the outset was to focus on delivering a quality product that could hold its own in the company of the world’s finest wines. As demand for Ernie’s wines has grown, so has the range. The team was caught out by the unexpected level of demand for the inaugural vintage of ‘Big Easy’, a delicious, fruit-driven red blend which is now accompanied by a refreshing Big Easy Chenin Blanc and Rosé.
Some of Darling Cellars’ vineyards enjoy the coolness of the Darling Hills, just three miles from the roaring Atlantic on the west coast of South Africa, while others bask in sun in the flatter hinterland. Their lucky winemaking team thus has abundance of flavour profiles to play with, not to mention a funky mix of varieties. Darling is best known for Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc as well as old vine Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, but their winemakers actually have fifteen red varieties and nine white varieties at their disposal. Their luck continues: 96% of the vineyards are un-irrigated bush vines so yields are very low and the quality proportionately high.
Investment continues in the winery and cellar with some of the most modern and up-to-date winemaking equipment in the industry today. A modern bottling line, new presses, a barrel maturation cellar, a new grape off-loading system and continuing replanting of vineyards, to include noble cultivars, all contribute to Darling Cellars’ advances in contemporary winemaking.
The Forge Mill range is well established with independent wine merchants and wholesalers in the UK, providing great value with varietal distinction and consistency. The wines are sourced from the wider Western Cape.
Bouchard Finlayson is a top class, internationally-renowned estate situated in Walker Bay, mid-way between Cape Point and Cape Agulhas (the most southerly tip of Africa). The climate is largely influenced by the nearby cold Atlantic Ocean rendering it one of the coolest wine-growing areas in the Cape. The Hemel-en-Aarde valley, home to Bouchard Finlayson, is surrounded and sheltered by a mountain barrier, formed by Galpin Peak (810 metres) and the Tower of Babel (1200 metres), which traps the cloud cover and moisture brought in from the sea by the prevailing wind.
The estate is committed to conservation and sustainable farming, and they strongly believe their BWI membership sets them apart from other winemaking regions in the world. BWI (Biodiversity and Wine Initiative) is a partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector, aimed at protecting the Cape’s rich floral kingdom. To this end, only 19ha of their most precious resource – the land – is under vine in order to preserve the natural indigenous fynbos (a valuable ecosystem).
After searching the Cape for the perfect site, he discovered a small apple orchard in the Elgin Valley, and Sutherland Vineyards was born.
Sutherland Vineyards is situated just 9 km off the Atlantic Ocean with altitudes of 140 to 250m above sea level. Due to this proximity, ideal cool climate conditions are created. The resulting wines are more balanced with great depth and complexity of flavour.
Thelema Mountain Vineyards is a family owned and managed wine estate, part of the spectacular Simonsberg Mountain range in Stellenbosch, South Africa and home to Thelema and Sutherland wines.
Gyles Webb abandoned his accounting career in Durban to become a winemaker. In 1983, with the help of his wife’s family, the McLean’s he bought Thelema – the beginning of a family legacy.
The manor house was restored and the first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988. By the mid 90’s Thelema’s wines sold out within a month after release, making it one of the most sought-after wine estates in South Africa. The Webb family describe Thelema as “one of the most beautiful places on earth”.
Through the understanding of their optimal climate and soil type, Thelema have firmly entrenched themselves as one of the leaders in Cabernet Sauvignon, placing Stellenbosch Cabernets firmly on the global wine map.
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.
