Cape Winelands – Two Day Tour

September 2019

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: September 2019

DEPART SPIER HOTEL

• De Morgenzon
Perched on top of a hill in the Stellenbosch Valley, this is the first stop to learn about what makes wines different from others. De Morgenzon has seen quite extensive development since it’s purchase in 2003 by one of South Africa’s foremost business women, Wendy Applebaum. Her acclaimed winemaker, Carl van der Merwe will take you through his wines and show you their Chenin Blanc block, planted as bush vines in 1972 and recently trellised up which is a very interesting viticultural process.

• Keermont
At Keermont in the Upper Blaauwklippen Valley you will meet winemaker Alex Starey who will take you to the Chenin vine block, followed by a tasting of the Keermont wines. This is arguably one of the most beautiful and also hidden vineyards in Stellenbosch. Alex will explain what sets this valley’s terroir apart and what its unique attributes are. Keermont’s production is relatively small and priced at the high end, so an opportunity to taste these truly hand crafted wines is not to be missed.

LIGHT LUNCH AT KEERMONT

• La Colline vineyard in Franschhoek
This vineyard is the source of a few renowned brands, e.g. DGB’s Bernard Series as well as Chris Alheit’s Cartology. Viticulturist for Douglas Green Bellingham (DGB), JD Rossouw, will talk about the history of this particular block and what makes it special. Wine tourists normally are not able to experience the wines at their source, especially in this format where similarly to Burgundy several producers harvest from the same block.

• Lukas Van Loggerenberg
Nestled high up on the Du Toitskloof pass above Paarl, this new kid on the block literally took the South African wine scene by storm in 2016 with the release of his maiden vintage. Coming from nowhere, Lukas made wines from beautifully sculpted vines. While tasting wines he will walk you through his viticultural and winemaking philosophy.

DEPART FOR RIEBEEK KASTEEL

Stop en route to see South Africa’s oldest Cinsaut vineyard where Chris Mullineux will briefly talk about this block.

CHECK IN TO ROYAL HOTEL FOR ONE NIGHT ON A BED & BREAKFAST BASIS

• Casual supper with Swartland winemakers.
To take a break from all the formal sit down lunches and dinners, you’ll experience true Swartland hospitality with Callie Louw from Porseleinberg (Porcelain Mountain) as well as other renowned winemakers. Callie will prepare the dinner in his homemade, customised smoker, consisting of pork belly and brisket. A selection of Swartland wines, mostly produced from old blocks, will be open for tasting and enjoying with your meal.

Day 2: September 2019

• Mullineux and Leeu Family Wines
Chris and Andrea Mullineux have been consistently awarded for their uniquely terroir driven Swartland wines, also mostly from older blocks. This talented couple will host a tasting at their farm, Roundstone, based in the foothills of the Riebeek Kasteel Mountain, in the Riebeeksriver Valley. Their wines form part of the “Swartland Revolution” and helped over the years to position the Swartland as a leading wine region by a few like-minded individuals with a clear focus on quality and pure site expression. Chris and Andrea are the perfect pair to share this philosophy with you.

• Eenzaamheid
This 17th Century Paarl farm with its 7 generations of farmers is a source of many outstanding Chenin and Cinsaut brands in the South African wine industry. Janno Briers-Louw will present his own Eenzaamheid family label, after a visit to the vineyards and the rather unsophisticated cellar situated in their storage and packing shed. Very much a garagiste operation and a great example of how vines are preserved for longevity through sustainable viticultural practices. After the tasting you will get to enjoy a light lunch of local cheeses, salads and charcuterie.

OVERNIGHT AT SPIER HOTEL FOR OWN ACCOUNT BEFORE / AFTER TOUR.