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Sweet Constantia
A new book, Klein Constantia – The home of Vin de Constance, has been released.
Sweet Constantia
A new book, Klein Constantia – The home of Vin de Constance, has been released.
While this might not initially appear to be big news, the fact that only one truly great wine has ever been made in the Southern Hemisphere – the fabled sweet wine of Constantia – is. Wine writer Joanne Simon found a host of either undiscovered or consciously overlooked historical detail while conducting years of research.
“It was Johannes Colyn who took up the mantle of winegrowing in Constantia from Simon van der Stel with great distrinction and devotion,” Simon wrote. “Yet few have heard of Colyn because his contribution was downplayed, even ignored, during South Africa’s strife-ridden Apartheid years. In all probability, this was because he was the son of a black woman, the exceptional Swarte Maria Everts, whose parents had been brought to the Cape in chains from West Africa in 1658”.
While the fact that Napoleon enjoyed it while in exile on St Helena is well documented, there are other great snippets: George Washington was sent a dozen bottles in 1778 while fighting for American independence from Britain; cellar records reflect thousands of bottles of white and red Constantia wines in the Versailles cellar with Marie Antoinette known to drink a glass of these wines with relish. “According to Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, whose husband was the Governor General of South Africa after World War I, her grandmother, Queen Victoria, enjoyed a glass of Constantia every evening after dinner,” Simon wrote.
As noted by wine writer Michael Fridjhon in his foreword, this book is “so significant and the story it recounts … engrossing”.
Top of their game
The Drinks Business launched the Master Winemaker top 100 just three years ago in 2020
Top of their game
The Drinks Business launched the Master Winemaker top 100 just three years ago in 2020 – and four South African winemakers featured on 2023’s list: Bruce Jack for the Ghost in the Machine shiraz 2019, Dewaldt Heyns of Saronsberg for Full Circle 2019, Graham Weerts of Capensis for the 2018 chardonnay and Samuel Viljoen of Nederburg for the 2018 Nederburg Private Bin R163 cabernet sauvignon.
Providing the reasoning for the list in 2020, the publishers wrote: “the guide shines a light on the talented people who work in the vineyards and cellars – the creatives, scientists, mavericks and dreamers at the pinnacles of winemaking, who craft class-leading products. These names have one thing in common – they’ve all achieved our ultimate accolade, winning a Masters medal in the Drinks Business’s Global Masters tasting series.”
Nederburg cellar master since 2021, Viljoen modestly said that winemaking” is a team sport”. He acknowledged the wine growers who supplied the fruit to SA’s largest producer cellar, as well as his winemaking colleagues. “It feels good to be in such company.”
Bruce Jack echoed that modesty. “As any winemaker will truthfully tell you when their brand manager isn’t listening, we play such a small part in what is an incredibly complex and often fragile process,” he said. “The cult of the winemaker is truly overbaked! But such is the way of the marketing world…”
Nix to Wixworth
“We want to thank you for all your lovely loyalty and support throughout the years as we have produced Wixworth gin,”
Nix to Wixworth
“We want to thank you for all your lovely loyalty and support throughout the years as we have produced Wixworth gin,” a statement to Dear valued customers read in March. “We are writing this post to let you know that we have made the difficult decision to discontinue the production of Wixworth gin.”
The crisp, dry juniper-forward gin in its distinctive hunter green bottle was a victim of the profusion of gin brands available in South Africa. It featured and performed positively in gin tastings with CHEERS magazine, frequently being mentioned for being a gin that was true to type as a London Dry style. Where other producers promoted overtly floral or fynbos or citrus gins, Wixworth let the juniper speak loudest, as it should.
Their parting word was that they understood that the news would be disappointing to fans of their product but “if you’re looking for a great tasting substitute, we highly recommend trying Hendrick’s”.
A charitable bunch
Held at the magnificent Hazendal wine estate in Stellenbosch in February, the Cape Wine Auction 2023 (in partnership with Mastercard) garnered almost R8 million for charity in one night.
A charitable bunch
Held at the magnificent Hazendal wine estate in Stellenbosch in February, the Cape Wine Auction 2023 (in partnership with Mastercard) garnered almost R8 million for charity in one night.
Since the first Cape Wine Auction in 2014, the event has cumulatively raised more than R125 million. Chairman of the Cape Wine Auction Trust, Raymond Ndlovu pronounced himself “absolutely thrilled” with the results – especially since the auction took place at a tough economic time.
“The monies raised means the Trust can continue its invaluable work with our beneficiaries, all of whom are dedicated to improving the education and lives of children in the Cape winelands. A big thank you to all our partners, especially Mastercard, as well as to those who donated the fabulous lots and everyone who bid so generously for them,” he added.
Former Miss South Africa Amy Kleinhans and her husband Leighton Curd supported the auction
The Cape Wine Auction is regarded as one of the most significant international wine charity auctions, uniting the industry around a single goal of raising money for education. Every single cent raised goes to carefully selected beneficiaries.
Four of the evening’s most sought after lots made up almost half of the total amount raised! Lot 19, a three-night getaway for eight people staying at the lavish &Beyond Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, was sold twice, each time for R1 million, while Lot No 20, an ultra-luxurious safari experience for eight people at the award-winning Cheetah Plains in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, also went for R1 million.
Another fiercely-contested lot was Lot 21, a five day stay in Paris and two golden seat tickets to the Rugby World Cup final, courtesy of Mastercard, was sold for R600 000.
Durbanville’s sparkling charmer
Klein Roosboom is one of the lesser known attractions on the popular Durbanville wine route.
Durbanville’s sparkling charmer
Klein Roosboom is one of the lesser known attractions on the popular Durbanville wine route. But to those in the know, it’s more charming with its unique themed tasting rooms created from old winemaking kuipe or open concrete tanks.
Durbanville is known for being cool because of the breezes which blow inland off Table Bay. That and the good soils make Klein Roosboom suited to grape cultivation as well as the making of specialist sparkling wines.
Newly released is a flagship range, the culmination of a long-held dream for Karin De Villiers. The Brut and Brut Rosé bubblies appear under the My Way label from Klein Roosboom.
“Our wines have traditionally been named after family members,” De Villiers said. “The My Way range was, however, named in tribute to my father, who loved that song made famous by Frank Sinatra. To us, we like to think of it as making wine our way, for wine lovers to enjoy their way.”
The 2019 Brut was awarded 4 stars in the 2023 Platter wine guide while the same vintage of Brut Rosé got 4½ stars.
Approval granted
Almost a year-and-a-half after the deal was first announced, the Competition tribunal has granted approval for the R40 billion merger with Distell by Dutch brewing giant, Heineken.
Approval granted
Almost a year-and-a-half after the deal was first announced, the Competition tribunal has granted approval for the R40 billion merger with Distell by Dutch brewing giant, Heineken.
Distell, which was formed in 2000 after the merging of Distillers Corporation and Stellenbosch Farmers’ Winery, owns some of South Africa’s most recognisable liquor brands: Nederburg, Zonnebloem, Chateau Libertas, Van Ryn brandy, Savanna and Hunter’s cider as well as Amarula, amongst others.
Moneyweb said the Tribunal’s green light would see Heineken invest €2.4 billion into a newly formed business entity, Newco, with Heineken South Africa, Namibia Breweries and Distell merging, in exchange for a majority shareholding of 65%.
“We are delighted the Competition Tribunal has approved the deal,” Heineken CEO and chairman of the executive board, Dolf van den Brink said in a statement. “We are very excited to bring together three strong businesses to create a regional beverage champion, with a unique multi-category offer to better serve consumers, customers and create shared societal value across Southern Africa.”
Furthermore, Van den Brink said Heineken was committed to “being a strong partner for growth and making a positive impact in the communities in which we operate, and the proactive and comprehensive public interest package we’ve put forward is testament to that.” These measures include business investment, broad-based black economic empowerment, job creation, localisation and supplier development.
Seeing red
The De Villiers family have farmed Landskroon wine estate on the south-western slopes of Paarl mountain continuously for almost 150 years.
Seeing red
The De Villiers family have farmed Landskroon wine estate on the south-western slopes of Paarl mountain continuously for almost 150 years.
The fifth generation is now in charge of the family business with Paul de Villiers making the wine while his brother Hugo and cousins Huguette and Madelief are also involved.
“Next year we celebrate our 150th anniversary on the farm and 50th year of making wine under our own Landskroon label,” said marketing and sales manager, Huguette (De Villiers) van der Merwe.
Their flagship range under the Landskroon Paul de Villiers label, recognises the contribution made by the many generations over the years. The 2019 Landskroon Paul de Villiers reserve, a 4½ star wine in the Platter guide, is a blend of mainly cabernet sauvignon with merlot (17%) and equal parts of cabernet franc, petit verdot and malbec. Not only does it offer great drinkability but superb value as well.
Egg-cellent!
Gary Jordan, owner of Jordan wine estate, let slip during a recent harvest celebration at the Stellenbosch property that this faceted concrete egg vessel – an ouef de Beaune – cost more than the original purchase price of the whole farm
Egg-cellent!
Gary Jordan, owner of Jordan wine estate, let slip during a recent harvest celebration at the Stellenbosch property that this faceted concrete egg vessel – an ouef de Beaune – cost more than the original purchase price of the whole farm!
Eggs such as this, along with terracotta, porcelain and clay amphora have become extremely popular among winemakers in the past five years. This is because these vessels offer micro-oxygenation during fermentation and maturation which ultimately translates into a wine with better texture and flavour. And that’s always good news for wine consumers.