South African Wines Part Seven: Old and New

Autumn bounty at Babylonstoren

Wine was BIG on the itinerary for my sister's visit to South Africa. We visited a variety of wine estates over the course of her stay in Cape Town. Some were ones Vince and I had sampled before and others were new ones even for us.

We visited Groot Constantia on Tuesday ... primarily in order to buy some Vin de Constance for my sister to bring back to the USA as a present for her friend Charlie. But after our tasting, we decided to buy a few bottles of their award-winning 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, their 2013 Merlot and their 2014 Sauvignon Blanc too for the apartment.

hanging gardens of Babylon

On Wednesday, we drove out to Stellenbosch and Franschhoek for a full day of tastings. I had to take her first to see Babylonstoren in Franschhoek. There is simply nothing else like it. It is early autumn now in the Cape Winelands and Babylonstoren was lush with its full harvest. Eden revisited.

We bought a few bottles of their 2012 Nebukadnesar and their 2013 Chardonnay to drink and I ordered a case of their Chenin and their Rose which will be released in April to be shipped to Joburg.

taking a break from wine tasting on the chamomile lawn

Mont Rochelle

While in Franschhoek we stopped in at Mont Rochelle, Sir Richard Branson's newly refurbished South African Hotel and Vineyard. Purchased by Sir Richard in 2014, Mont Rochelle already had a noble history. Established in the 1600's, wine has been produced on the property since 1940.

We did a tasting of course of wine produced pre-Sir Richard. A 2008 Mont Rochelle Artemis, 2007 Merlot, 2008 Syrah and their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon. We purchased a few bottles of the Cab but we will be back for more on another day!

In Stellenbosch we stopped in at Tokara. Tokara looks very different from the previous estates we visited that morning. Its winery is all raw stone, stainless steel and glass. Unflinchingly modern, the buildings still manage to blend seamlessly with its setting. It looks like an art gallery and in fact, it is. Paintings and drawings were exhibited inside and the slopes provided space for a sculpture garden.

Like I said, it is early autumn and that means one thing in the wine country. Harvest time!

It is really the best time to visit any wine region. The areas come alive with the promise of another vintage. (More about that later though!)

Next stop, Spier with its equally historic manor house and offering an eagle encounter and a fine craft market. Finally we ended our day in the Durbanville region at De Grendel for one last tasting before dinner.

the manor house at Vergelegen

On Friday after our spa treatments, we stopped at a final wine estate, Vergelegen. It was literally right across the street from the spa. I wanted to see their gardens in full summer bloom, let Cheryl see the magnificent manor house and buy another six bottles of their delicious Semillon Straw dessert wines to be shipped back to Joburg.

Whew! I believe it was at Spier that my sister uttered the words I had never thought I would hear her say. "I can't taste any more wine!"  To which I replied, "Tomorrow's another day."