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Wineries in Hermanus and vicinity

Here’s a snippet of trivia: a person who produces his or her own label by blending grapes from a variety of vineyards is known as a Garagiste winemaker. Essentially, it’s French for homemade, or ‘concocted in the garage’, although you don’t necessarily require a garage to be a true Garagiste!

Andy Mitchell Wines
Andy Mitchell Wines is a “Garagiste” wine producer based in Greyton. The wines are currently produced from grapes sourced from selected quality vineyards in the Helderberg area. The wines are produced by Andy Mitchell, a qualified Cape Wine Master, his wife Vikki and daughter Olivia, a highly qualified chef.

Arumdale
Arumdale has been in the Simpson family since the early sixties, and only relatively recently (since 2000) has selected land been turned to vineyard. Mark Simpson, with Hugenot bloodlines from the Loire, is presently on the land. Inspired by terroir, and a keen interest in giving reality to a long-held dream, Mark Simpson planted the first commercial Shiraz vineyard as the new century dawned. The vineyard now extends just short of ten hectares including selected clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot to add to the Shiraz.

Run along a minimal-tillage, minimal irrigation, and environmental-impact approach, ARUMDALE hopes to produce wine which “feels” the Bokkeveld Shale soil-type, and fully utilises the cool climate, allowing for the un-hurried, time-enhanced phenolic ripening of the grape bunches. Harvests have been fully 5-7 weeks later than the Paarl-Stellenbosch areas, even as late as the last week in April, where the nights are longer
and days shorter and cooler.

Ataraxia
Already into its fourth vintage, Ataraxia has burst onto the national and international wine scene with a string of accolades and rave reviews for the three wines that currently make up the range. Situated along the R320, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, a scenic drive through this popular wine growing area brings one to Ataraxia, in the foothills of the majestic Babilonstoren. Winemaker, Kevin Grant, continues to push the envelope in fine-tuning the three handcrafted wines made from grapes grown in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley and other prime wine growing areas.

And the name ATARAXIA? “It’s a term used to describe emotional tranquillity”, explains Kevin, “or in more expanded terms, the freedom from disturbance that characterises a balanced mind and constitutes its first step towards the achievement of pleasure. It’s really about conveying the very essence of what drinking good wine does for us and not to us as human beings”.

Babylon’s Vineyards
South Africa, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus are all unique destinations. Babylon's Vineyard is situated in the Walker Bay close to Hermanus. It produces world class wines, focusing on quality rather than quantity. The winery does not sell to the public but the wine is available from the Wine Village – Hermanus.

Benguela Cove
The Benguela Cove dream had its original roots in the weathered shale of the gentle sloping hills when the two directors got stuck on the site – originally a grazing sheep farm. The original co-developers of the prestigious Arabella Golf and Hotel development wanted to have a look at the property from the “other side” of the lagoon. As enthusiastic wine drinkers with little background in agric ventures, but with a professional eye for property development, they decided to buy the 200 hectare farm and develop it into a world class wine estate. In the planning stage, Paul du Toit from Wine Village introduced Schalk du Toit as viticulturist, and he has been involved as agric project manager since 2002.

About 65 hectares of vines would have been planted by the end of 2008. The main focus is on Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, with smaller patches of Chardonnay, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The estate also boasts lavender fields and olive plantations with 124 residential properties, which are situated along the 5 km of lagoon frontage, or nestled within the vineyards. The building of a 500 ton wine cellar, restaurant and tourism centre will start towards the end of 2008 for completion by end 2009 / beginning 2010 – in time to vinify the 2010 harvest on site. The boutique hotel is to be built at a later stage.

Barton
Barton Vineyards is a boutique winery situated in the picturesque Walker Bay Ward. The unique maritime climate and low yielding soils lends itself to the production of premium wines, imbued with elegance and finesse. Minimum intervention in the cellar and hands-on viticulture ensures that the wines express their terroir and origins to the fullest.

Beaumont Wines
Once on 18th century outpost for the Dutch East India Company, Compagnes Drift farm in Bot River, is now home to Beaumont Wines, a family-run winery with a proud tradition of making individualistic wines from ancient clay-rich soils in the Walker Bay region. Founded by Raoul and Jayne Beaumont, son Sebastian is the winemaker with daughter, Ariane, assisting in management.

With merely 34 hectares under vine, the vast majority of the 400 hectare farm is pristine fynbos-rich mountainside, part of the Green Mountain Eco Route within the Kogelberg Biosphere. The farm is a treasure for both nature- and culture-lovers. The historic water mill is being restored to produce a limited amount of stone ground whole wheat meal while two beautifully-restored historic cottages offer authentic farm accommodation.

Belfield Wines
Belfield farm, situated in the Elgin valley, was purchased by Mike and Mel Kreft at the end of 2000. The existing old fruit orchards were soon replaced by vineyards; Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Franc. Only red varietals have been planted as they are specifically suited to Belfield’s terroir.

Elgin, because of its altitude, proximity to the sea, and the cooling effects of the summer south easterly wind, is producing outstanding wines. The farm is small with only 2.5 hectares currently under vine. The owners feel they are therefore able to give the vineyards, and the winemaking process, considerable attention to detail.

Black Oystercatcher – From the Cool Tip of Africa
“Their lives entwined with sea, Black Oystercatchers thrive along the coastline around the cool tip of Africa. Similarly, the Human family has farmed here successfully for generations and were amongst the pioneers who established vineyards in the maritime ward of Elim. Bounded by oceans on three sides, the cool sea breezes caress the grapes constantly, allowing them to ripen gradually. This results in intense fruit flavours
which are then worked lovingly into exceptional wines from the cool tip of Africa”

Boschrivier
Ever since the De Villiers family (French forefathers) set foot on South African soil they’ve striven to perfect the art of viticulture and wine making. The old ruins of the first cellar building are there to prove it. Unfortunately the vineyards were removed but were brought to life again by Dr Theo de Villiers, the third generation of the De Villiers family. The first vines were planted in the De Villiers Family Vineyards in virgin shale soils in 1997. Three hectares of Shiraz were planted, followed by eight hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz bush-vines that were planted in 2004. Boschrivier has since striven to make a Shiraz that would make the De Villier’s name proud.

Boschrivier is a true competitor in the wine industry that lives up to its motto: “la main a l’oevre” …..”hand at work”. Boschrivier is on the R326, Caledon – 35km, Stanford – 17km

Bouchard Finlayson
Bouchard Finlayson is a small winery located in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, near Hermanus. The 125 hectare property currently has 19hectares under vine; the rest is mountain land, covered in the indigenous “Fynbos” flora of the Western Cape.

The first vines were planted in 1990 and the first bought-in grapes were crushed on 14 February 1991. Bouchard Finlayson is owned by Bouchard Finlayson (Pty) Ltd. The directors are Brett, Victoria and Michael Tollman representing the Tollman Family Trust.

Cape Bay
This negoçiant range of stylish quaffers is blended and bottled by the Johnson family of Newton Johnson. One of the oldest SA export ranges to the UK, it is also to be found in Europe and the Far East. It focuses on the value for money price category and has been very successful s a house wine range for the on-trade and as entry level cultivars for many retailers.

Creation
The story of Creation Wines is as old as the hills – dating back to when Mother Nature created South Africa’s beautiful Heaven-and-Earth Valley and bestowed upon it exceptional winegrowing conditions. Creation Wines falls under the appellation of Walker Bay, a region renowned for wines rivaling the world’s best. 22 hectares of virgin land, never planted to vines before, were selected to establish virus-free strains of only the finest varietal clones. Situated some 350 metres above sea level, where ideal soil types combine with the cooling breezes from the Atlantic Ocean (only 5 kilometres away), the vineyards enjoy optimum growing and ripening conditions.

Domaine des Dieux
Domaine des Dieux – ‘Place (or Home) of the Gods’ in French - is situated in the Hemel-en-Aarde at the foot of Babylon’s Toring – the highest peak in the mountain range that frames the picturesque Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. Early residents of the valley believed that at the peak of Babylon’s Toring Heaven touched Earth, and in the foothills we have found the Place of the Gods.

Concentrating on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay plantings, cultivars of Burgundy, the 20ha of vineyards include Sauvignon Blanc and a variety of reds chosen for the development of a red blend - all cultivars carefully chosen and matched to terroir with the intention of producing small volumes of superior wines.The vineyards are at an altitude of 300m and benefit from the cool maritime breezes that deliver sea mists and some of the coolest recorded temperatures in the Cape winelands.

Crystallum
Crystallum is the brainchild of Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson, the sons of winemaker Peter Finlayson. This is also 40 years after the First Finlayson's (three generations back) produced wine in what is now Hartenberg Estate. Andrew is an Architect who operates out of Cape Town running his own office, while Peter-Allan takes care of the winemaking and operational activities.

The wines are currently made in the Hermanus area with building to begin on a space where we can do small cameo bottlings starting soon and hopefully up and running at the end of the year.

Ecology
This beautiful, isolated farm is the work in progress of brothers Valli and Mohseen Moosa, whose strong environmental philosophy informs all agricultural aspects of the farm. With its rugged Babylonstoren mountain backdrop and undulating foothills, it is a biodiversity ‘hotspot’ with several rare fynbos flowers and 5 endangered red-data-listed plant species.

The aim is to practise sustainable farming: the farm employs integrated agricultural practices, working with nature to maintain the vineyards, minimising the use of unfriendly substances and concentrating on the natural enrichment of the soils. All farming activities, including Nguni cattle and sheep farming, are conducted ever-mindful of sustaining a peaceful coexistence with the natural habitat and local fauna and flora, that
includes planting an antelopes’ share in the vineyards.

Bot River, the region in which the farm is situated, is the latest officially recognised wine ward in the Western Cape and a fast-emerging top-class wine-growing region, widely recognised for its cool climate wines.

The vineyards were developed on the Overberg mountain slopes rising behind the Walker Bay coastline and Bot River lagoon. Chilling late afternoon summer sea breezes create ideal conditions for a top of the range cool climate Sauvignon Blanc.

Elgin Valley Vineyards
The beautiful 40 ha farm in the Elgin Valley was purchased as an apple farm by Ian and Anette Corder in 2003. The area with its cool climate and rich soil is perfect for Sauvignon Blanc and it was for this reason that we established Elgin Valley Vineyards in 2003.

The aim is to combine meticulous viticulture and new world wine making techniques to produce a uniquely styled wine with a structure, complexity and balance to rank amongst the world’s finest Sauvignon Blancs.

The farm has now been totally replanted to wine grapes, Sauvignon Blanc 8 ha, Chardonnay 4 ha, Shiraz 1 ha, Pinot Noir 2 ha and Viognier 0.5 ha.

Elgin Heights
The farm Elgin Heights was purchased by the Joubert family in 1966, and farmed as a deciduous fruit unit until 1999. Elgin Heights covering 111 hectares is situated in the Elgin valley about 20km from the sea at an altitude of 250-290 meters above sea level. The cool climate of the Elgin valley, the natural slopes of the farm, coupled with the maritime influence make it the ideal place for the production of top quality wine grapes.

Today the farm is called Smarag which is the Afrikaans word for emerald, referring to the beautiful green surroundings of the Elgin valley.

The current owner Ryk Joubert decided to register the wine production unit under the original name Elgin Heights. The Joubert family has been wine farmers in Stellenbosch since 1913 on the farm Rozendal, it was a natural transition to extend the grape and wine to Elgin.

Elgin Vintners

Elgin Vintners is a close knit partnership of 6 producers, who believing in the excellence of the Elgin terroir and diversity of their vineyards, have combined their resources to produce a range of premium quality wines.

Careful site selection and innovative viticultural practices produce grapes that are vinified by individual winemakers, selected for their affinity to and passion for a particular cultivar, which is in turn expressed in the outstanding quality of their wines. With a total of 101.5 hectares under vineyard, and a delightful tasting room located just off the Viljoenshoop Road, Elgin Vintners is fast becoming one of the upcoming gems of the
South African wine industry.

Feiteiras Wines
Established in 2003. The proprietor and winemaker is Jose de Andrade and M G de Andrade is the viticulturist. They are both from Madeira Island. The De Andrade brothers have the only working ’‘foot press” (also known as lagar) in the Cape. Built from scratch in an open fermentation tank, its wooden screw was hand-turned in Madeira, where the De Andrades hail from, and it needs two men to turn the 7m gum pole to work it.

A sentimental, but functional déjà vu for José and Manuel de Andrade, whose winemaking is deeply informed by heritage. “This is truly handmade wine” says José who learned winemaking as a young man during his annual visits to Madeira.

Gabrielskloof
150 years ago travellers on the wagon trail from Cape Town to the north found rest, food and wine at Gabriëlskloof, where farmer Gabriël le Roux lived and planted vines to make his own wine. The tradition of hospitality to travellers is once again the raison d’etre of Gabriëlskloof, but this time in first world style, luxury and quality.

A modern, impressive cellar has risen on the hills of the farm and with it a restaurant, courtyard and olive press – all complete with 360 degree views over the hills towards mountains and sea. A spectacular place to stop, breath in the clean, clear air of the countryside, taste wines, olive oil and lavender oil grown on the soil around the cellar and savour the best, seasonal fare in the restaurant or deli.

Quality underpins everything at Gabriëlskloof starting with the vineyards that are remote from growers and therefore virus free. The wines will comprise a white wine from Sauvignon Blanc and two reds, one a Bordeaux style blend and the other a Shiraz based wine.

Goedvertrouw Wine Estate
Tucked away in the van der Stell Pass, just off the N2 and Botrivier, lies Goedvertrouw Wine Estate. This is a wine farm with a difference. On Goedvertrouw, Elreda Pillman (owner and winemaker) strives for authenticity in everything she undertakes. Her philosophy remains one of simplicity and honesty. She believes that the bounty of the good earth is always exquisite – whether in wine or in food.

On Goedvertrouw you will find wines that are bio-friendly and produced by embracing the natural environment and the essential elements of winemaking. Here the Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay strive to reflect the soil of the region, the sunlight and rain of the earth and the distinctiveness of the cultivar. These elements are combined in the ancient process of winemaking whilst being guided by the loving hand of the wine maker.

When you come to visit Elreda Pillman on her farm you may come for many reasons – the excellent wine, to stay in the unique B&B with the delicious home-cooked meals, her fresh baked bread and farm churned butter of the rose garden and the view of the valley from the verandah. Mostly you will come, because it feels like home – a special place where you are greeted like family and spoiled like a guest.

Ghost Corner
Nestled in a protected alcove, the Ghost Corner forms the entrance to the southernmost tip of Africa, where the seas are treacherous and the coast notorious for its shipwrecks. More than 130 ships have sunk or gone aground here, due to stormy seas, unexpected fog and incorrect compass readings (showing no deviation from true north and magnetic north).

This magical and desolate area has inspired David Nieuwoudt to create a range of wines capturing the mystery of the Ghost Corner.

Amidst natural fynbos lies Ghost Corner, in an area known for its cool south-easterly sea breeze influence. At 65m above sea level (the highest in this area) these south-facing slopes enjoy all the advantages of these climatic conditions. The soil is rich in slate and gravel deposits and also boasts deep lime-rich soil perfect for Pinot Noir. Due to the ideal growing conditions David Nieuwoudt will place his focus on producing unique
and characterful Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards
Hamilton Russell Vineyards – one of the most southerly wine Estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea - is located in the beautiful, cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley Appellation, behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The Estate specialises in producing highly individual, terroir driven Pinot noir and Chardonnay, which are widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the best in the New World.
Founder, Tim Hamilton Russell purchased the undeveloped 170 hectare property in 1975, after an exhaustive search for the most southerly site on which to make South Africa’s top cool climate wines from a selection of noble varieties.

His son Anthony, who took over in 1991 (finally buying the property in 1994), narrowed the range to Pinot noir and Chardonnay only and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an Estate,
committing to work only with grapes from their terroir. Extensive soil research initiated in 1994 identified 52 hectares of stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil as optimal for the individual, origin expressive style they aim for and all plantings have now been limited to this soil type.Anthony with winemaker Hannes Storm and viticulturist Johan Montgomery are completely dedicated to expressing the personality of the
Hamilton Russell Vineyards terroir in their wines. Tiny yields and intense worldwide demand keep the elegant, highly individual, Estate grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in very short supply.

Hermanuspietersfontein
We are proud to have named our wine cellar and brand Hermanuspietersfontein, after the original name of our village founded in 1855. It is our commitment to produce world-class wines of distinctive style and character. At Hermanuspietersfontein we not only produce great wines, our cellar has become a popular destination for entertainment and concerts; is known for its Food & Wine Market and the Wine Festivals and tasting events we hold on a regular basis. Our winemaker, Bartho Eksteen, focuses his passion on: three styles of Sauvignon Blanc, two Bordeaux-style as well as a Rhone-style blend

Highlands Road Estate
The farm, which was purchased in 2003, then planted with apples, pears and plums, was identified as an area ideal for the cultivation of Sauvignon Blanc – cool and with abundant winter rainfall. The first 3 hectare vineyard was planted in 2005 on the south and south-westerly Tukulu clay slopes, a further 3 hectares planted in 2006, and 4 more hectares in 2008.

The farm is the culmination of a dream, and 4 partners from all walks of life and parts of the world, including Scotland, Australia, England and South Africa, making it real through the common denominator of “the love of wine”!

The modern cellar at Highlands Road Estate is fitted with state of the art winemaking equipment, and processes up to 200 tons per annum. It also has a barrel cellar holding approximately 250 barrels. The attached tasting room has a cool air about it, and a familiar warmth allowing one to appreciate the passion and dedication of the winemaker and partner, Justin Hoy.

Hornbill House
What started as a challenge to make one barrel of wine in 2004, has now developed into the production of approximately 16 barrels for the past two years. Born of a passion for the ritual and culture that surrounds wine making, and following a dream when moving to Hermanus from Pretoria, ten years ago, this has become a hobby that includes all our fiends. Grapes are sourced from the Hemel & Aarde Valley and processed
in our minute winery located underneath our home in Hornbill House.

Iona
In 1997 Andrew Gunn and his family acquired a beautiful, but run-down apple farm situated on a mountain plateau 450m above sea level, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean near Kleinmond in the Western Cape. The farm was renamed Iona after the island of the West Coast of Scotland. As Gunn's we can trace our ancestry to the Vikings that landed in Scotland in the 900’s, hence the Viking long boat emblems on our labels.

Iona is South Africa’s coolest vineyard with harvesting times up to 8 weeks later than other wine producing areas. The Sauvignon Blanc is harvested in March and the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in April.

The cool climate ensures long, slow physiological ripening of the grapes under ideal growing conditions, with the sugar, pH, acid and flavour compounds being in balance to produce elegant wines of distinction that rank with the finest in the world. We focus on Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon which are well-suited to the unique cool climate and low potential soils.

Jackson’s
Stanford Hills is a small boutique winery situated a stone’s throw away from the quaint, picturesque town of Stanford, on the farm Weltevrede. While Pinotage is the flagship of this farm, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay have recently been planted, and 2008 saw the maiden vintages of these two varieties. Peter and Jami Kastner, together with two friends Jaco van Zijverden and Cino Gironi bought the farm in 2005 from Maurice Jackson, hence the label “Jacksons”.

The estate currently has 4ha Pinotage, 3ha Sauvignon Blanc (2ha not yet in production) and 1ha of Chardonnay, with plans to plant another 10-12ha in the near future. The cellar, which at the moment is still more of an aeroplane hangar will be also expanded and upgraded in the not too distant future.

Jakob’s Vineyards
In 2006, this small family owned vineyard and winemaking concern in Ward 3 of the Walker Bay District, close to Hermanus, made its first wine from four ton of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In total Jakob’s Vineyards has two hectares under vine (half of which are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon vines and the other half to Cabernet Franc and Merlot), allowing this boutique operation to focus on the production of quality wine
which expresses its unique cool area terroir.

Jean Daneel Wines
Jean started his winemaking career in South Africa as the first winemaker for Buitenverwachting in 1983. Jean had always wanted his own wine cellar and vineyard and in 2003 he achieved that dream by buying a small property on the riverbank outside a small town called Napier, just 40 minutes drive from L’Agulhas, the most southern point of Africa where the Indian and Atlantic Ocean meet. In 2005 he started to build his winery and in 2006 the first wine was made in the new cellar.

Keisseskraal
Keisseskraal is situated 7km from the village of Botriver, on the picturesque Van Der Stell Pass. The farm borders on the Bot River where the owners practise viticulture and Pecan nuts on biodynamic principals. No pesticides or herbicides are used. The farm is also home to the well-known Ultramontani Warmblood horse stud.

Kingsbridge
Kingsbridge wine cellar is situated on the Viljoenshoop Road in the Elgin Valley. The farm where the vines are planted and the grapes harvested is called Valley Green and is owned by David Bridgman.

The farm was originally a 100% apple farm, but because of the cold weather and good rainfall and excellent for grapes, the farm has become a wine estate growing Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Although a wide range of vines are grown, only small volumes of each are produced. Only small volumes of high quality will be produced by Kingsbridge wines.

La Motte
Environmental management is a high priority at the La Motte Wine Farm in Franschhoek, and is factored into the long-term strategy as well as the daily running of the estate. Examples of this include protecting precious natural flora known as ‘fynbos’ on the adjoining Wemmershoek mountains and organic wine farming at the La Motte Nabot farm in the Walker Bay coastal region.Nabot has been developed as an organic production operation, eliminating the use of pesticides and chemicals in viticulture. The organically grown grapes are reserved for the production of the magnificent Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc (organically grown) that takes organic wine into a new level of excellence.

“To carry the La Motte label, each wine has to reflect the greatest expertise in viticulture, combined with experience, passion and a creative flair in wine-making,” says Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte Estate.
Nabot has been awarded full SGS Certification which is an international Organic Production Standard that acknowledges good agricultural practice in organic production. La Motte has also recently achieved BWI Champion Status which is the highest form of recognition from the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative programme and means that La Motte qualifies as an exemplary wine producer with an excellent track record of
environmental responsibility and a comprehensive conservation management plan which is consistently managed and includes extensive alien clearing, fire management and voluntary conservation agreements which commit their natural areas to long term conservation.

Over and above all of this; Nabot is also a member of the Green Mountain Eco Route in the Groenlandberg area. The Eco Route is the world’s first biodiversity wine route and incorporates the area around the Groenland Mountain.

Land’s End
The deep south of any continent suffers the effects of extreme climatic conditions that often combine to produce raw elements of rare beauty and quality. Such is the case at the Land’s End Vineyard, located at the very southern tip of the African continent.

Severe growing conditions, with rocky soils combine to produce wines of intense flavours, depth and rare quality. Land’s End vineyards were bought by Hidden Valley Wines in November 2005. The property is 56ha of which 14ha is planted to vineyards.

La Vierge
“La Vierge”, French for “The Virgin” reflects the symbolism associated with the beautiful Hemel en Aarde Valley “Valley of Heaven and Earth”

With visions of Praslin Island in the Seychelles, believed by ancient mariners, to have broken away from Africa and to be covering the original Eden, La Vierge seeks to bring together this verdant paradise and that which is here, near the southern most point of Africa.

La Vierge winery was purchased by the current owner in the middle of 2005 from the Johnson family when it was known as Cape Bay. Extensive renovations were started and the cellar’s capacity was increased from 150 to 250 tons. A spectacular new tasting facility was opened in the middle of December 2006 and a 80 seat fine dining restaurant with some of the most commanding views in the Western Cape has been completed and opened on the 1st of June 2007.

Lismore
Tucked into the foothills of the Riviersonderend Mountain Range, 7 km from the beautiful village of Greyton, is Lismore Estate Vineyards. Established by two Californians searching for paradise and the perfect terrior. Their passion combined with vines planted at 300 metres, chilled by the winter snow and nourished by the African summer sun, produce classic, cool climate wines which are rich and lovingly hand crafted.

Lomond
Rounding the bend at the edge of the Gansbaai peninsula on the Cape’s south coast, a wide, sweeping bay opens out in front of you. At first glance it appears quite desolate, and it is. But tucked behind ancient dunes, the ground has been ripped up to make way for vines.

You are now at the southern most tip of Africa, a promontory exposed to the elements, a meeting point of two oceans, a concurrence between land and sea. This bleak landscape is far from the lush rolling vineyards of the traditional Cape Winelands, yet it creates wines filled with the character and vigour needed to tame this terrain.

Luddite
The Verburg & Meyer families founded Luddite Wines in November 1999 with the sole aim of making world class Shiraz. The first vintage released was 2000, which was very well received by the market.

Luddite Wines is situated on the eastern slopes of the Houw Hoek Mountains, 1½ km from the village of Bot River in the Walker Bay Region. The property is 17ha in size and will have 10ha of vineyards when planting is finished. These cool south eastern slopes catch the morning sun and are ideal for long ripening and this gives the well-balanced Shiraz good spicy characteristics.

Misty Mountains Estates
Misty Mountains – about 12 km North East of Hermanus at the foot of the Kleinriver mountains on the Cape South coast of South Africa, is blessed with several microclimates, or weather patterns, that make it prime for producing world-renowned grapes. From the mist that often lingers on the Kleinriver mountains near the Eastern tip of the mountains, temperatures can vary as much as 12 degrees along the mountains. Misty Mountains is bordered and protected on two sides by mountains.

Newton Johnson
Newton Johnson Vineyards is owned and managed by the Newton Johnson family. Dave, a Cape Wine Master, has over 30 years’ experience in the South African wine industry. He is ably assisted by his equally wine - and food-focused wife, Felicity (née Newton).

Then, there are the brothers; both dedicated to the family concern. Gordon, the cellarmaster, crafts the wines to translate the message of the soils into the wine. Bevan is the managing director and in charge of the marketing. His wife Ezanne, is a freelance graphic artist and adds flair to the promotional material.

Vine planting is done with typical care. Four different trellising methods are used, dependent on soil type. There is a strong focus on ensuring material going into the soil is virus-free.

Oude Molen Distillery, Elgin
Oude Molen VOV 14-year old and 100 Reserve are widely acknowledged as brandies of exceptional quality. These pot-stilled, oak-matured extra fine brandies have received international acclaim and awards since René Santhagens first bottled his brandy in 1910. Established in 1848, it is the oldest, independently owned liquor company in South Africa.

Oak Valley Wines
Oak Valley Wines in Elgin has made great strides locally and abroad since the launch of the first wine in 2003; a much acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are products of the exciting new cool climate Elgin Ward, which is rapidly attracting the attention and investment from a number of leading South African winemakers.

The Oak Valley range of wines includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bordeaux-styled blend, known as The Oak Valley Blend. The flavours of the wines are characterised by minerally undertones complimented by fresh acidity, giving an elegance that has its origins in the cool terroir of the valley.

Oewerzicht
Oewerzicht is situated about 8 kilometres outside Greyton on the banks of the Riversonderend River. Although mainly a fruit farm, Oewerzicht established a boutique cellar in 2002 and also bottled its maiden vintage, a 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, in that year. Oewerzicht is part of the greater Overberg wine district – but can lay claim to be the first cellar from the Greyton area.

At Oewerzicht wine is made in a traditional manner – minimum handling, punch downs and pressing with a basket press – the result is a Cabernet with soft tannins.

Pearly Gates
The farm Pearly Gates was established in 1970 in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley behind the coastal town of Hermanus. The current owners love Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir and acquired Pearly Gates for being exceptionally suited for the cultivation of these cool-climate wine grape varieties. Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz are being produced and Pinot Noir is on its way. The wines are handcrafted and not mass produced.

Paul Cluver
Paul Cluver Wines are the result of a close-knit family who are dedicated to the holistic production of fine handcrafted wines.

In the mid 1980’s Elgin was identified as a cool climate wine-growing appellation with the potential to provide slow ripening grapes with delicate aromas and fruit character similar to that of the great wine growing regions of the world.

Paul Cluver’s vision is-“To make a meaningful difference in everything we do and more specifically with wine to combine the tremendous diversity our area has to offer and the passion of our family to develop great and distinctive wines.”

Quoin Rock Cape Agulhas
Quoin Rock focuses on producing wines that express the unique characteristics of site and vintage and have a strong focus on biological viticulture and natural winemaking. Supplemental irrigation, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and the use of herbicides are kept to an absolute minimum with spot treatment being used in favour of general vineyard application. In the cellar natural yeasts are used and the addition of tartaric
acid and enzymes are excluded.

The estate’s name is derived from a landmark known as Quoin Rock, situated near Quoin Point, off the southern tip of Africa. These landmarks existed as warnings to early seafarers who rounded this notoriously treacherous coastline.

Signature cool climate minerality can be found in these elegantly styled wines.

Raka
The Dreyer family first ventured into farming in 1982 when they bought Remhoogte farm, near Stanford. Piet Dreyer continued his career as commercial fisherman whilst his wife and children tended to the farm.

During 1999 (with Piet semi-retired from fishing), they decided to re-develop the farm by planting 8 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Since then they added a few hectares every year and now have 68ha under vines, with smaller plantings of Sangiovese, Viognier, Mourvedre and Petit Verdot and larger plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc.

Ross Gower Wines
After selling the family citrus farm in the Eastern Cape in 1999, the Gower family scoured the entire Western Cape for potential vineyard sites. However, the lure of cool Elgin, which had become affordable during a slump in the traditional apple growing area, proved irresistible, and a beautiful 83ha property was secured in the south-eastern corner. The Elgin Valley, an elevated biosphere, roughly 75km East of Cape Town is
considered South Africa’s most exciting new cool wine area.

Currently only 6ha are planted t Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz, so for the foreseeable future, grapes will be bought in from selected growers in the Elgin ward. Although Ross has to some extent been disadvantaged working with young vineyards, it is his commitment that the Ross Gower brand will consist of grapes from Elgin only.

South Hill
South Hill is located at the south eastern end of the Elgin Valley, seven and a half kilometres from the N2 highway along the Valley Road.

South Hill was previously known as South Hall Farm and before that was made up to two sub-divisions. Jan Niemandbosch and De Hoop. The Elgin Valley is famous for top quality apples and pears and the farm used to be planted with fruit orchards. The cold winters, cool summers and the deep fertile soils which made the valley the obvious choice for apple farmers also means that influential and respected wine makers are now
investing in Elgin. The underlying philosophy behind the redevelopment of the farm was to capitalise on the natural beauty with sensitivity to the surroundings. Eco-friendly policies, such as the planting of only indigenous trees and plants and the rehabilitation of natural fynbos were implemented at an early stage.

South Hill was purchased by its current owners in May 2001 and has seen some dramatic changes since. The neglected apple and pear farm has been transformed into a premium wine estate. Development continues and a total of 30 hectares of vines will be processed and bottled on the farm when it is complete.

Springfontein
The farm was bought 10 years ago by German Shareholders with Anja and Johst Weber being the main shareholders. The challenge was a big one with the limestone soils and cold winegrowing region of Walker Bay. That is why Springfontein wants to make wines in a style that reflects our special and specific terroir. This however will be an ongoing process since every vintage is different and will be handled different.

The farm size is 500ha fynbos vegetation and bush with 25ha of vineyards. The production is 110 tons (7500 cases). The location is 5km from the seas, 4km from Stanford and 20km from Hermanus.

Slowine
Slowine is a collaboration between friends from around the Groenland Mountain, a place where, in many ways, life continues as it has for decades previous, governed by the pace of the seasons. Slowine partners include Paul Cluver, Luddite, Beaumont and Vilko.

Slowine is an easy-drinking range of happily affordable wines that invite you to enjoy some time with friends and family. These are the times that make life special and Slowine is a reminder that so much of what is important in life happens in the moments “in between”, when you are relaxed, just sitting and chatting to people you like being with. As we say: time becomes precious when life rushes by – and this wine is an invitation to stop and take some time out. Slow wines can be enjoyed when ever, where ever. All-the-time wine!

Southern Right
Southern Right is a small Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc specialist located on a beautiful 440ha property in the cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus.

Founded by Anthony Hamilton Russell in 1994, Southern Right's aim was to produce a serious, age-worthy Pinotage combining a distinct South African fruit and flavour expression with classic styling and refinement. It is Anthony's belief that as an early ripening grape, Pinotage is best suited to cooler areas. It was also his conviction that the stony, high clay content, shale-derived soils on the property he chose, were best suited
to creating the more classic style he was aiming for. Rigorous yield management and extreme care to ensure harvesting at full physiological ripeness, combine with the terroir to re-define South Africa's red grape variety. The Sauvignon Blanc remains an international best seller with its classic, tight minerality complementing the prominent varietal fruit. It has been rated one of the 12 best South African Wine Values in the Wine
Spectator (USA).

The wines are named after the rare Southern Right whales, which frequent the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay, 3 kilometres from the vineyards. With each bottle sold, Southern Right Cellars makes a contribution to Southern Right whale conservation.

Spookfontein
“Spookfontein” (Ghost Fountain) Vineyards & Wine: Legend has it that in the flowing waters of the natural spring (“Spookfontein”) one can see a spirit or ghost.

We are a boutique, hands-on winery, very much red Bordeaux variety orientated, and comprising 11ha of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir grapes. Mainly red wines are made. We do create a Rosé, Traditional Sparkling MCC from Pinot Noir & 100 litres Port Cab. Sauv.

Our wines are made more using “Old-World” techniques with “New-Age” attitude. Some ‘spontanious fermentation’, ‘Pigeage’, Basket-pressed, MLF in barrel, lees contact in barrel, slow 20 month French Oak barrel maturation, no fining, low Sulphite levels. We keep our winemaking style simple and true to the character of the land and soil (Terroir Wines)

Strandveld Vineyards
Strandveld Vineyards, home of First Sighting. The discovery of the new world continues …….. In 1488 Bartholomeu Dias had a “First Sighting” of the Southern tip of Africa.

514 years later the Strandveld Vineyards were planted on a remote, windswept piece of land between Elim and Cape Agulhas. The vineyards contend with gale force winds fresh off the cold Atlantic Ocean.

Sumaridge
The estate has been developed as a premium, boutique producer since 1997 with the express intention of producing wines that distinguish the beauty of the location and its proximity to the ocean. This idyllic site embraces its environment, lean soil and seasonal winds moderate. The vigour and cool temperatures and constant sea breezes allow for naturally low yields and long even ripening of grapes resulting in superb wine
quality. The 6 varietals planted are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, representing 40% of our plantings, and Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Syrah and Merlot make the remaining 60% of plantings.

Thandi
Established in Elgin in 1995, Thandi – a Xhosa word meaning 'nurturing love' – is a wine that niches on quality, spawned the Fairtrade trend, and helps to uplift and empower previously disadvantaged people.

Synonymous with excellent quality, Thandi also advocates ethical trading and social transformation. The community is actively involved at all stages during the winemaking process, from working in the vineyards to producing the award-winning wines. The company of wine people™, one of South Africa’s leading wine exporters and producers, is playing a vital role in terms of mentorship and skills transfer on the Thandi project.

The Berrio
Situated in Elim. There is absolutely no point in making wine if it’s not: drop dead gorgeous, fabulously decadent and 100 percent true to its terroir. At The Berrio we believe in pushing the boundaries so that you’ll reap the very best rewards of our creative efforts in the glass. Simple. After all, expecting the maximum from every drop is what fans of The Berrio are used to - and the very least we are prepared to offer.

The People: The Pratts are family people who put their faith in God, the earth and the sea. Soon after they came to Elim nearly two decades ago, the decided to try and capture the soul of this special place in a bottle of wine. Being predominantly a wheat and sheep farming region, there were those who thought they would fail. But pioneers with faith seldom fail. Especially when they combine their strengths with creative business partners who also wish to achieve distinctive results.

Tokara
The TOKARA property acquired by GT and Anne – Marie Ferreira in 1994 is situated on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg mountains, overlooking Stellenbosch.

The winery is located on the crest of the Helshoogte Pass about 4km outside of Stellenbosch. Apart from award winning architecture, the facility offers magnificent vistas of the Simonsberg Mountains, False Bay, Table Mountain and surrounding Banhoek Valley.

When describing their wine, TOKARA’s winemaker, Miles Mossop, use words such as: ”intensity, complexity and balance”. These also emphasize the point that the wines show a strong sense of elegance, reflecting the commitment to the excellence of the estate.

The “Highlands” farm in Elgin and the “Siberia” property in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus are TOKARA’s two other sources of fruit. Both provide outstanding conditions for vineyard growth and add fascinating variety to the TOKARA collection.

Villiersdorp
Founded in 1922, Villiersdorp Cellar is situated in the lavish and mountainous area of the Theewaterskloof in the Overberg, a mere 100 km from Cape Town on the R43. The cellar, already renowned for its excellent Moskonfyt, also produces a wide range of top quality table wines.

Whalehaven
Situated in the Walker Bay region, the wines from this boutique winery are styled along classic French lines ands target the elegance and reserve of fine Burgundies.

The winery is owned by the Bottega Family who produce a diverse and exiting collection of wines, including the prestigious Idiom label which is created in a more New World style. Over time Whalehaven has gained a strong reputation for its Classic Range of wines including an elegant French-styled Pinot Noir, a rich Chardonnay, and a spicy Cabernet Franc. The ripe and delicious Viognier-Chardonnay on the other hand exhibits more of the flair and fruit of the New World.

Whalehaven has now created a new W-Range of wines including a Rosé called Strawberry Fields, a red blend of Merlot/Shiraz, the Old Harbour, an easy drinking and popular table wine, and the Pinotage blend called Crushed Velvet.

Wildekrans
Nestled in the serene Bot River Valley, the winery and the vineyards are located in the wine ward of Walker Bay.The cool Atlantic winds and lean soil allow the grapes to reach optimal ripeness and impart the characteristic cool climate aromatic profile that Wildekrans Wines are renown for.

A full range of premium wines under the Wildekrans label is complemented by an easy drinking range of blends under the Caresse Marine label.

William Everson Wines
These wines are made in a boutique cellar. The farm, Klipkop, is situated in Elgins.

Witklip Winery
Witklip, a 25Ha farm off-the-beaten track near Bot River, is reviving a little bit of history and giving birth to a boutique wine cellar under the passionate care of a team that believes in the fundamentals – kept it simple, clean and well cared for, from the vineyard to the bottle.

Witklip has the benefit of being planned and designed from vineyard plantings for the production of quality grapes, to a cellar designed to produce exactly the style of wine required by the owners. The team consists of winemaker Philip Costandius who is consultant to Leon Engelke, farm manager, vintner, winemaker (and Michelangelo Garagiste of the Year 2007) on the farm owned by Belgian restaurateur, Lode Lemahieu.

The style of wines envisioned by Lemahieu include a top of the range Shiraz blend and a white counterpart featuring mostly Chardonnay. These wines will be labelled under the Eerste Hoop label, giving recognition to the historic hunting lodge of Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel, who used to visit the valley to hunt. Under the Witklip label two cultivar wines will be produced, namely Shiraz and Chardonnay, and a red and a white
blend to “sit on the stoep” and drink.

Zoetendal
A tradition of pride and excellence forms the foundation for the inspirational wines created by Johan de Kock at this boutique cellar, Zoetendal Wines. Throw into that a hefty helping passion and grounded friendliness so common in the Strandveld, and the result is an exquisite range of wines, whose elegance is set to captivate palates worldwide.

Situated on the banks of the Nuwejaars River, 3km East of the picturesque mission village of Elim, and only 20km from the southernmost tip of Africa – where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet - Zoetendal Wines, established in 2004, is the product of Johan de Kock. To date Zoetendal’s vineyards have given rise to three exquisite wines: a Milé (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot), Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

The original tastes of these wines are due to the unique terroir that sets all wines from the Elim ward in a class of their own. The coastal climate provided by the nearby ocean lends itself to a unique process, in which grapes are able to mature slowly and gracefully to produce rich and