{"id":16419,"date":"2011-02-01T11:00:50","date_gmt":"2011-02-01T09:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=16419"},"modified":"2011-02-11T10:04:46","modified_gmt":"2011-02-11T08:04:46","slug":"wellington-wine-route-friendly-wine-estates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wine-news\/wellington-wine-route-friendly-wine-estates\/","title":{"rendered":"Wellington Wine Route: friendly wine estates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I spent the past weekend in my old hometown Wellington, and stayed at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/accommodation\/review-grand-dedale-country-house-is-grand-and-relaxing\/\"><strong>Grand D\u00e9dale Country House <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on the Doolhof wine estate, at the end of the Bovlei Road.\u00a0\u00a0 Angelo of Grand D\u00e9dale had set up some appointments to visit the private wine estates (Nabygelegen and Klein Optenhorst).\u00a0 My wine estate visits were concentrated on the Bovlei Road (4 km of it is untarred, which rattled me and the car when I first arrived, but two days later it was no longer an issue),\u00a0and my impression of this first taste of the fine Wellington wineries is one of overwhelming friendliness and good neighbourliness.\u00a0 I did not manage to visit all the wine estates in Wellington, and Welvanpas, Bosman Family Vineyards, Andreas, the Jorgensen Distillery (not a wine estate but producing very exciting spirits), and others will have to wait for a next visit:<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Doolhof<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-tasting-room-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16462\" title=\"doolhof-tasting-room-whale-cottage-portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-tasting-room-whale-cottage-portfolio-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-tasting-room-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-tasting-room-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-tasting-room-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>The 380 ha wine estate lies at the end of the Bovlei Road, and while its name means labyrinth in Afrikaans, a cul de sac was also given this name.\u00a0\u00a0Doolhof belongs to Dorothy and Dennis Kerrison.\u00a0 Its soils are &#8220;finer, more balanced and deeper than in the surrounding countryside, with\u00a0clay content evenly distributed&#8221;.\u00a0 The roots are able to grow to four meters and beyond, the Room Directory informs Grand D\u00e9dale guests.\u00a0\u00a0 The location of the farm allows it to have cooler summers and warmer winters\u00a0than the norm in Wellington.\u00a0 Less than 10 % of the farm is under vine.\u00a0 Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Merlot, Pinotage and Shiraz are grown.\u00a0 The remainder of the farmland is uncultivated, and consists largely of fynbos.\u00a0 The Biodiversity and Wine Initiative is supported by Doolhof, and a programme is in place to remove alien Black\u00a0Wattles, and to plant indigenous wetland plants and trees.\u00a0 The cellar was started in 2004, and the tasting room once was the stables on the farm.\u00a0\u00a0 Its architecture and interior decor reflects that of Grand D\u00e9dale Country House on the wine estate, but is less extravagant.\u00a0 The Doolhof hostess used the word &#8220;elegant&#8221; to describe it perfectly.\u00a0 One can sit inside the spacious airconditioned tasting room, or outside at a water feature.\u00a0\u00a0 One can order food as well, I was told, and an arrangement with Grand D\u00e9dale Country House\u00a0to provide this service has ended, with a dedicated chef starting next week, to prepare meals for the Doolhof tasting room visitors.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>There are three Doolhof wine ranges, and their labels are equally elegant:<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-label1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-16514\" title=\"doolhof-label1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/doolhof-label1-120x150.jpg?resize=120%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"150\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 the Cape range is the entry level range, and its wines are a blend of own grapes as well as those of other estates.\u00a0 Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Robin Ros\u00e9, Cape Boar (Merlot-based blend) and Cape Roan blend with Shiraz.\u00a0 The price ranges from R 33 &#8211; R49.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 the Signatures of Doolhof\u00a0range is made from Doolhof grapes only, and Sauvignon Blanc (R54), Chardonnay Unwooded (R54), Chardonnay Barrel Fermented (R92), Cabernet Sauvignon (R70), Shiraz (R70), Pinotage (R86), Petit Verdot R124), Renaissance blend (R80), Merlot (R81)\u00a0and Malbec (R124)\u00a0is produced.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 the Legends of the Labyrinth range has three wines: The Minotaur is the most expensive wine sold at Doolhof, at R150, and is a blend of six grapes: Merlot, Malbec,\u00a0\u00a0Petit Verdot, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz;\u00a0 Lady in Red is a Bordeaux-style blend (R70); and Dark Lady\u00a0is a Pinotage with chocolate and mocha aromas (R70).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Doolhof Tasting Room staff are smartly dressed, in blue shirts with Doolhof branding.\u00a0 Natasha was a self-confident and knowledgeable hostess, and made photocopies of more detailed notes on each wine, in colour, and for each wine a suitable food pairing suggestion is provided.\u00a0\u00a0A stem tag identifies the wine one is tasting, a professional touch.\u00a0 The brochure is attractive and professional looking.\u00a0\u00a0 One can join the &#8216;Denizens of Doolhof Wine Club&#8217;, a rather unfortunate name!\u00a0 The wine estate is largely bottling with cork, but is planning to move more towards screwcaps in future.<\/p>\n<p>It seems a shame that Grand\u00a0D\u00e9dale and Doolhof do not interact more, by displaying each others brochures.\u00a0 The Grand D\u00e9dale Room Directory has detailed information about the wine estate.\u00a0 Both are on Twitter, and should support each other in that medium too.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Doolhof wines dominate the Grand D\u00e9dale wine list.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Doolhof Wine Estate<\/strong>, Bovlei Road, Wellington.\u00a0 Tel (021) 873- 6911. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.doolhof.com\">www.doolhof.com<\/a> Monday &#8211; Saturday 10h00 &#8211; 17h00, Sunday 10h00 &#8211; 16h00<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Dunstone Winery<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/dunstone-winery-entrance-21.bmp\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16472\" title=\"dunstone-winery-entrance-21\" src=\"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/dunstone-winery-entrance-21.bmp\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>Dunstone Boutique Winery opened in 2006, and 2,7 ha of the 4 ha is planted to vine.\u00a0\u00a0The name of the winery was\u00a0chosen by its owners Lee and Abbi Wallis, Dunstone being the place in the United Kingdom in which the couple\u00a0got engaged.\u00a0 A lot is made of the &#8216;stone&#8217; part of the Dunstone name, in that the entrance wall is built from stone, there is\u00a0a stone display as one walks from the tasting room to the garden, the vases with fly-deterrent branches have little stones in them, and the bill\u00a0for The Stone Kitchen restaurant (separate review to come) comes with a large stone on the silver holder, to prevent it from flying away.\u00a0\u00a0 I felt that the wine estate is &#8220;schizophrenic&#8221;, in not knowing what character it wishes to have, judging by its entrance, building and interior.\u00a0 The most beautiful stainless steel Weimaraner dog logo is erected on each of the walls at the entrance, in honour of the Wallis&#8217; dog named Shiraz.\u00a0 The stainless steel dogs lead one to expect a very high-tech winery, being so new and with its strong use of stainless steel, and also as the winery calls itself &#8217;boutique&#8217;, but the wine tasting building is very ordinary, without a defined\u00a0architectural style.\u00a0\u00a0 But what is even odder is\u00a0the cottagey wood furniture in the tasting room, which also is the interior seating for the restaurant.\u00a0 The restaurant tables and chairs look really old-fashioned, and a long table has benches\u00a0with cushions on them in different colours and patterns &#8211; the material from these have been laminated, and are used as (small) place mats in the restaurant.\u00a0 A lamp above the wine tasting counter has been made from a &#8216;wingerdstok&#8217;, and has fairy lights laced through it.\u00a0 The big stainless steel vats are in the room too, as is a display fridge with chef Johan van Schalkwyk&#8217;s muffins to buy, and some of his jams and muesli mixes which he sells, as well as trays of desserts he was serving at a wedding that same evening, as he also runs a catering company called Twist.\u00a0 The beautiful brochure for the winery creates even more confusion, in that it has a beautiful\u00a0image of the\u00a0Weimaraner logo on the stone wall, in silver, on the front cover, again giving the winery a very hi-tech image.\u00a0 The\u00a0Dunstone labels also have the Weimaraner logo on them, also in silver.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Carina Stock\u00a0is a friendly German wine hostess, and she will be increasingly involved in all aspects of the wine production.\u00a0\u00a0She studied art and jewellery design, and spent many years at Uitkyk, in restoring wallpaintings.\u00a0\u00a0She has worked at Boschendal and at DG Bellingham.\u00a0 More than 11000 bottles are produced per year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At Dunstone all vineyard work is done by hand, and tractors are not used.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carina\u00a0offered me four\u00a0Dunstone wines\u00a0to taste:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/dunstone-wine.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-16517\" title=\"dunstone-wine\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/dunstone-wine.jpg?resize=52%2C130\" alt=\"\" width=\"52\" height=\"130\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ros\u00e9 2010 (R45):\u00a0\u00a0 Crisp and dry, with strawberry, raspberries and plum.<\/p>\n<p>Merlot 2007 (R65): Silver Medal won at Veritas Awards 2008 &#8211; full-bodied, ripe dark fruit, spices and oak, matured in French oak barrels for up to 14 months.\u00a0 The Merlot 2008 (R65) is\u00a0a lighter wine.<\/p>\n<p>Shiraz 2009 (R120): First 5-star Platter rating\u00a0for a Wellington wine, in 2010 edition, for the 2008 vintage, as well as Gold won at International Wine Challenge and Old Mutual Trophy Awards, and Double Gold at Michelangelo Awards.\u00a0 2008 vintage sold out.\u00a0 2009 vintage described by Jancis Robinson as &#8220;Dry, baked nose but sufficiently juicy fruit on the palate.&#8221;\u00a0 The wine is matured in French, Hungarian\u00a0and American oak for up to 14 months, is heavier, and\u00a0&#8220;with a long finish&#8221;.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Adi Badenhorst is the consultant winemaker.\u00a0 Alli&#8217;s father Robert Frith is always on the farm during the harvest, Carina said.\u00a0 He encouraged the Wallis couple to take out some of the guava trees, and plant grapes, being a garagiste in the UK.\u00a0 Wine lovers are encouraged to come and help harvest the grapes and to participate in the winemaking process, even stomping the grapes, a personalised participation.\u00a0 One must call to ensure that there is harvest or winemaking activity taking place on\u00a0a given\u00a0day.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dunstone Winery, <\/strong>Bovlei Road, Wellington.\u00a0 Tel (021) 873-6770. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dunstone.co.za\">www.dunstone.co.za<\/a>\u00a0 Open\u00a0Monday &#8211; Friday 10h00 &#8211; 17h00, Saturday 11h00 &#8211; 15h00.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Bovlei Cellar<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/bovlei-winery-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16468\" title=\"bovlei-winery-whale-cottage-portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/bovlei-winery-whale-cottage-portfolio-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/bovlei-winery-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/bovlei-winery-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/bovlei-winery-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>As one drives out of Wellington, towards the Bain&#8217;s Kloof Pass, the Bovlei winery is on the right, a co-operative of 32 farmers producing 8000 tonnes per year.\u00a0 Established in 1907, it is the oldest in Wellington (there are two others) and is the second oldest co-operative in South Africa, I was told by Tasting Room hostess Melissa van Wyk.\u00a0\u00a0 The wines sold at Bovlei are extremely good value, but range in Platter rating from 2 &#8211; 3,5 stars.<\/p>\n<p>There are four ranges:<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 The winemakers selected specific grapes from specific members&#8217; farms to make the Vineyard Selected Range, consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and a\u00a0Shiraz\/Mouvedr\u00e9 blend, all costing R50<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0 the rest of the members&#8217; grapes go into the making of their Lifestyle range, consisting of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Beaukett, Gew\u00fcrztraminer and Special Late Harvest, all costing between R 22 &#8211; R25.\u00a0 The reds are Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, at R30 a bottle.\u00a0 Ros\u00e9 costs R20, and a sparkling Brut R30.\u00a0 The Shiraz won\u00a0the Best Shiraz and Best Red in the 2010 &#8220;Quest for the Best&#8221; of Wellington competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 The Thomas Kipling range is available in Cabernet Sauvignon, Dry Red, Dry White and Cabernet\/Merlot blend, made exclusively for Pick &#8216;n Pay, Game and other liquor outlets, starting off at R19,99.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 The Bovlei Centenary Selection is available in a Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, each costing R35, a 100th birthday celebratory range made in 2007.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bovlei Cellar<\/strong>, Bain&#8217;s Kloof Road, Wellington.\u00a0Tel (021) 873-1567.\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bovlei.co.za\">www.bovlei.co.za<\/a>\u00a0 Monday &#8211; Friday 8h00 &#8211; 17h00, Saturday 8h30 &#8211; 12h30.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Nabygelegen<\/strong>:\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/nabygelegen-tasting-room-james-mckenzie-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16467\" title=\"nabygelegen-tasting-room-james-mckenzie-whale-cottage-portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/nabygelegen-tasting-room-james-mckenzie-whale-cottage-portfolio-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/nabygelegen-tasting-room-james-mckenzie-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/nabygelegen-tasting-room-james-mckenzie-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/nabygelegen-tasting-room-james-mckenzie-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>I was extremely fortunate to get an appointment to meet James McKenzie, from the private wine estate that is highly rated by wine writer Neil Pendock, I was told.\u00a0\u00a0 A misunderstanding about my expected time of arrival was quickly forgiven by James, and he patiently sat with me, doing a detailed tasting of his Nabygelegen and Snow Mountain ranges. He told me that he bought the 35ha farm (19,5ha under vine)\u00a0ten years ago, having been a banker in London and Z\u00fcrich.\u00a0 He was so determined to become a winemaker that he studied wine making by correspondence course, and first\u00a0worked on wine farms in France, Spain, New Zealand and Chile, to learn from them.\u00a0 The farm dates back to 1712, and one of his wines is named after this date.\u00a0 He is hands-on, harvesting, marketing, receiving journalists, wine-making, organising the use of\u00a0the\u00a0cottage by guests, and the planned\u00a0use of the old stables as a winetasting facility and restaurant.\u00a0\u00a0Johan Wiese is a consultant viticulturist for Nabygelegen.\u00a0\u00a0The pricelist states that his wines are &#8220;handcrafted wines&#8221;.\u00a0 The brochure states the mission of Nabygelegen to be &#8220;To create of wines character and concentration reflecting vineyard specific terroir, using environmentally sound techniques, subscribe to ethical labour practices and enthusiastically pursue upliftment in the valley&#8221;.\u00a0 It recommends a suitable food type to eat with each of the wines.\u00a0 James makes the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Nabygelegen <\/span>range, utilising grapes from his own farm, which consists of the following:<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Sauvignon B<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/scaramanga2008.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-16493\" title=\"scaramanga2008\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/scaramanga2008-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>lanc 2010 (R40) &#8211; very fruity, the best Sauvignon Blanc he has made to date, James said, and his 2010 vintage of 6000 bottles has just sold out<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Lady Anna 2009 (R32) &#8211; a light and fruity chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc and semillion blend, named after the neighbouring farm owner Anna Lategan, who is respected for having freed her slaves\u00a0a number of years ahead of the official abolition of slavery in 1815.\u00a0 Her ghost is said to wander on Nabygelegen and De Compagne, the neighbouring farm!<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Chenin Blanc 2009 (R45) &#8211; full-bodied chenin, which is barrel fermented<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Scaramanga 2008\u00a0(R50) &#8211; the Spanish nickname for Tempranillo, and also the name of the &#8220;baddie&#8221; character in &#8216;The Man with the Golden Gun&#8217;\u00a0Bond movie. Tempranillo is one of the grape types from which this wine is made, with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.\u00a0 It is made in the New World style, with focus on its flavour and smell.\u00a0Only four wine estates\u00a0grow Tempranillo in South Africa. \u00a0It is an upfront wine.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Merlot 2007 (R62) &#8211; sweet cherry and berry<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Petit Verdot 2008\u00a0(R80) &#8211; intense fruit with layers of vanilla and chocolate<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Seventeen Twelve 2006 (R90) &#8211; a classic Bordeaux Blend of Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon,<\/p>\n<p>The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Snow Mountain <\/span>range was launched last year, out of a need for a more pronounceable name for the English market, and it was named after Sneeukop, the highest mountain peak in Wellington.\u00a0 The grapes are bought in from other Wellington farms, which are higher up, and\u00a0therefore grow in a &#8216;continental climate&#8217; and not a Mediterranean one, as do most other local wines, excellent for the production of the Pinot Noir in particular, he said.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Ros\u00e9 2009 (R30) &#8211; made in the French style, not sweet, served at Wimbledon<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Pinot Noir 2009 (R90)\u00a0&#8211; highly regarded, has been served at Kensington and Buckingham Palaces<\/p>\n<p>One of James&#8217; greatest enjoyments is the &#8216;number of beautiful places&#8217; in which his wines are sold.\u00a0 I asked him which these are, and his top three are the following: Librije&#8217;s in Zusje in Holland; Claridges in London; and The Green and Blue Wine Shop in London, owned by ex-South African Kate Thal.\u00a0 We started tasting in the tasting room initially, tasting the whites and Ros\u00e9, then walked through the maturation cellar, which is used as a function venue,\u00a0for which James&#8217; friend Matthew Gordon from Franschhoek cooks, and tasted the Pinot Noir and reds in a\u00a0most special tiny underground cellar, which has a glass window showing the soil depth and the rock formation.\u00a0\u00a0 I was lucky enough to be given a bottle of the Snow Mountain Shiraz 2009, which has not yet been released.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Nabygelegen<\/strong>, Bovlei Road, Wellington.\u00a0 Tel (021) 873-7534.\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nabygelegen.co.za\">www.nabygelegen.co.za<\/a>\u00a0 Monday &#8211; Friday 10h00 &#8211; 16h30, Saturday 9h00 &#8211; 12h30.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Klein Optenhorst<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-garden-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16465\" title=\"klein-optenhorst-garden-whale-cottage-portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-garden-whale-cottage-portfolio-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-garden-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-garden-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-garden-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>Jenny and Naas Ferriera have lived on Klein Optenhorst since 1987, on a farm that once was the home of\u00a0my classmate Beverly Pywell and her family, and which I had visited for birthday parties.\u00a0\u00a0 A small 1 ha property has Pinot Noir grapes and the most beautiful garden, which the Ferreiras developed over time.\u00a0\u00a0 A gazebo with a whale weathervane has become the logo for the boutique wine estate, and caught my eye immediately.\u00a0\u00a0 Since 1994 the family produced Pinot Noir, but last year decided to make a Pinot Noir MCC sparkling wine instead, uti<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-mcc-label-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-16524\" title=\"klein-optenhorst-mcc-label-whale-cottage-portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-mcc-label-whale-cottage-portfolio-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-mcc-label-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-mcc-label-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/klein-optenhorst-mcc-label-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>lising the talents of Pieter Ferriera, whose wife Ann is the niece of Naas.\u00a0\u00a0 I was offered a glass of the beautiful bubbly by Ferreira daughter Jane Eedes, who is marketing the sparkling wine, a total of 1592 bottles of this maiden vintage having been produced.\u00a0The inspiration for the label\u00a0design by Eddy Haumann is the salvias from Jenny&#8217;s garden.\u00a0 I was treated to a guided tour of the garden,\u00a0and\u00a0was most generously given a bottle of the Pinot Noir as well as the Pinot Noir MCC.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Klein Optenhorst,<\/strong> Bovlei Road, Wellington.\u00a0 Tel Jane Eedes 083 324 6855.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Diemersfontein<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-entrance-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-16476\" title=\"diemersfontein-entrance-whale-cottage-portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-entrance-whale-cottage-portfolio-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-entrance-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-entrance-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/home\/wcotad56\/public_html\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-entrance-whale-cottage-portfolio.jpg?zoom=3&amp;resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>Located at the entrance to Wellington from the Paarl side, Diemersfontein has become a &#8216;residential estate&#8217;, is a wine farm, a spa, has a preparatory school, and has 30 rooms of accommodation.\u00a0\u00a0I have not been to Diemersfontein for many years, and have not ever drunk their wines nor seen their wine tasting room.\u00a0 I had booked a table for lunch, and had\u00a0a vision of an old manor house with a big stoep, which was the original Diemersfontein homestead.\u00a0 It is only used as accommodation and David Sonnenberg, the current owner, has an office there, I was told.\u00a0\u00a0The Sonnenberg family (linked to Woolworths)\u00a0has owned Diemersfontein since 1943, and originally apricots were the main fruit harvest.\u00a0\u00a0 Then export plums were farmed.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Wine has been made in the past ten years, and the property is described as a &#8220;Residential Wine Estate&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0I was disappointed to find a modern building which houses both the restaurant <a href=\"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/restaurant-news\/restaurant-review-seasons-restaurant-at-diemersfontein-functional-no-woolworths\/\">Seasons<\/a> (see review) and the Tasting Room.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The Tasting\u00a0Room was not immediately visible, and we could not work out which door was unlocked, to allow us to enter.\u00a0 It is small, compared to some of the others I visited in Wellington over the weekend, just containing a counter with bar chairs.\u00a0\u00a0 Aubern was friendly, and hunted down the last brochure for the wine estate.\u00a0 Brett Rightford is the cellarmaster, and he is responsible for making all the Diemersfontein wines other than Pinotage, which is the responsibility of Francois Roode.<\/p>\n<p>There are three ranges at Diemersfontein, for which 70 % of the grapes come from the estate, and the remainder are bought from other Wellington farms.\u00a0 The Platter star rating of each wine is listed on the price list:<a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-pinotage1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-16520\" title=\"diemersfontein-pinotage1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/02\/diemersfontein-pinotage1-150x150.jpg?resize=150%2C150\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 Carpe Diem is the flagship, and its wines are matured in French and American oak for 15 months as a minimum.\u00a0 The Pinotage 2008 was awarded 4,5 stars by Platter, and is sold out.\u00a0 \u00a0Prices are on the high side, between R 89 (Chenin Blanc and Viognier)\u00a0and R110 for Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Malbec.<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 The Diemersfontein range spends 6 months in oak, and is priced at R70, only the Pinotage being slightly more expensive.\u00a0 There is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Summer&#8217;s Lease Shiraz-based blend and a Heaven&#8217;s Eye Bordeaux-style blend.\u00a0 A red blend called &#8220;For the Birds!&#8221; sells at a low price of R45, and 10 % of sales goes to the &#8220;Save our Seabirds&#8221; Fund of Birdlife South Africa\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>*\u00a0\u00a0 The Thokozani range was launched last year, and is an empowerment project, with staff, investors and the Sonnenbergs as shareholders, and Aubern is focused on his goal to become a shareholder too.\u00a0 The Chenin Blanc\/Chardonnay\/Viognier blend costs R49, Ros\u00e9 R 39, and the Shiraz\/Mourvedr\u00e9\/Viognier blend costs R 69.<\/p>\n<p>For its good reputation, duration of wine production, and stature of wine estate, I was disappointed with the lack of marketing collateral, photocopied price list,\u00a0and the &#8216;ordinariness&#8217; and small size of the tasting room. Diemersfontein came across as the most &#8216;commercialised&#8217; of the Wellington wine estates I visited, yet was friendly too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Diemersfontein Wines,<\/strong>\u00a0 Jan van Riebeeck Drive, Wellington.\u00a0\u00a0 Tel (021)\u00a0864-5050. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.diemersfontein.co.za\">www.diemersfontein.co.za<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Monday &#8211; Sunday 10h00 &#8211; 17h00.<\/p>\n<p>A tear-off map of Wellington&#8217;s accommodation, wine estates, restaurants and shops was printed about three years ago, but does not appear to have been updated.\u00a0 It is similar to the excellent Franschhoek Wine Valley map, providing not only a location perspective, but also the contact details and tasting times.\u00a0\u00a0 It appears to have been replaced with a recent brochure on Wellington.\u00a0\u00a0 An update of the tear-off map\u00a0for the wine estates would be a good idea, to\u00a0encourage winelovers to visit as many wine estates as they can.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A website of the Wellington Wine Route, or even a blog, may be a consideration too.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\">www.whalecottage.com<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I spent the past weekend in my old hometown Wellington, and stayed at Grand D\u00e9dale Country House \u00a0on the Doolhof wine estate, at the end of the Bovlei Road.\u00a0\u00a0 Angelo of Grand D\u00e9dale had set up some appointments to visit the private wine estates (Nabygelegen and Klein Optenhorst).\u00a0 My wine estate visits were concentrated on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[124,363,21,19],"tags":[2928,9738,9719,3969,9732,1591,182,9739,7505,9690,9698,9667,9728,9714,5283,9670,9671,9686,9730,32378,9141,9692,9735,9679,9675,9725,9669,9677,9687,9723,9681,9664,9668,9682,9661,9722,9734,9731,9729,32369,9696,4338,9663,9704,9702,2275,9700,9721,9718,9685,7570,9717,9713,9666,9699,9705,9676,9684,9673,9715,9694,2485,9691,9665,497,9709,957,3248,429,387,9695,9724,9726,9689,9706,9678,9727,9710,9672,9711,9701,9740,1674,9680,2689,9707,447,9716,9708,9674,9660,9733,9697,1587,2440,9688,9693,9683,32385,9662,9737,32373,9720,9712,49,572,4473,9703,171],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I spent the past weekend in my old hometown Wellington, and stayed at Grand D\u00e9dale Country House on the Doolhof wine estate, at the end of the Bovlei Road. 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