Durbanville Wine Valley News archive
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The Feast of the Grape 2009 was a roaring success! We have some beautiful pics of the weekend in our photo gallery >
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Believe it or not - this year we are celebrating 350 years of winemaking in South Africa!
It was in 1652 that Jan van Riebeeck landed at the Cape, tasked with establishing a garden to provision VOC ships. The first vines arrived in 1655 imported from France, the Rhineland and Spain. Naturally, these were planted in the Company's Gardens, six acres of which survive as a botanical garden in central Cape Town to this day. Jan van Riebeeck's diary entry of February 2, 1659 reads: "today, praise be to God, wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes, and the new must was tested fresh from the vat."
Van Riebeeck also planted 1,000 vines at his own farm, Boscheuvel, while his successor, Simon van der Stel, staked his personal claim on the lower slopes of the Steenbergen in Constantia. Once these Governors showed that successful large-scale grape cultivation was possible, other free farmers followed suit. Until then grapes had served primarily as adornments for verandahs and stables!
This was the origin of the famously historic sweet wines of Constantia. Constantia vintners placed a premium on quality rather than quantity, attending their vines with care, and thus differentiating them from the somewhat rough and rudimentary wines produced elsewhere.
Fans of Constantia wines include Frederic the Great of Prussia while Danish foreign Minister Johann Sigismund Schulin's cellar records of 1744 indicate a considerable stock of Constantia. Famous French poet Baudelaire was a fan, as were Napoleon Bonaparte and British author Jane Austen, who wrote about them in Sense and Sensibility.
French Huguenot refugees in 1688 settled in the Drakenstein Valley, an area better suited to vines than grain cultivation, providing a much-needed boost as a few of their number knew about wine and viticulture. In the early 1700s wine farmers found themselves stuck with a surplus of pretty poor quality wine - but production grew apace because of uncontrolled planting of vineyards. By 1800 around 5 million litres of wine was produced annually. Wine farmers found themselves in a situation which was to last for centuries: a surplus of less-than-ideal quality wine that was difficult to dispose of allied to the reliance upon a fickle foreign market. Only when crops failed or Europe was at war were South African wines in demand. The exception, of course, was Constantia and sweet wines such as muscadel and hanepoot.
In the 1800s, British occupation meant a strong military and naval presence - and a consequent good demand for South African wines in Britain post 1813. However, it was fleeting, with preferential tariffs abolished in 1861 - leading once again to surplus. Added to this was the phylloxera epidemic which devastated plantings. First encountered in a vineyard in Mowbray in January 1886, it spread rapidly. Vintners were compelled to destroy millions of vines by uprooting and burning. Only the introduction of phylloxera-resistant American rootstock saved the industry.
At the turn of the 20th century, South Africa was itself at war, with Boer and Brit pitted against each other. However, wine and brandy sold well during 1899 and 1902 - but, following the cessation of hostilities, surpluses built up and prices dropped dramatically.
Perhaps one of the most significant events was the creation of the KWV (Ko-operatiewe Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afrika, Beperkt) in 1918. It saved many wine farmers from ruin by uniting their producers' interest under a single umbrella organisation, stabilising production and setting minimum prices.
The country's change of government in 1948 ushered in the era of apartheid and many former trading partners applied economic sanctions in protest. Lieberstein bucked the trend. Stellenbosch Farmers' Winery launched the semi-sweet white and backed it with an aggressive marketing campaign. By 1965 it was the biggest selling natural wine of its kind - worldwide.
However, the release of Nelson Mandela in 1990 and the rapid - and peaceful - transition to democracy paved the way for sustained growth in the modern era. Along with the establishment of a dedicated export marketing body (Wines of South Africa), a new generation of young winemakers were able to work and travel abroad, returning with fresh skills, techniques and ideas.
International exposure and dramatic growth in sales led to a change in style of South African wine as well as a greater commitment to improving quality. This has been reflected in the slew of international awards claimed by South African wines since democratic elections were first held in 1994, a remarkable turnaround and achievement for an industry which is simultaneously 350 - and 15 - years old.
Go to www.southafricanwine350.co.za to view the array of wonderful events and promotions planned for the year to celebrate this commemorative day.
Durbanville Wine Valley will celebrate this day by hosting a brunch for all the winemakers, growers and viticulturists of the region. |
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Jacus Marais (Nitida), Thys Louw (Diemersdal) and Etienne Louw (Altydgedacht) |
The Durbanville Wine Valley has re-asserted its claim to producing some of South Africa’s finest wines, both whites and reds, when several of its member farms walked away with top awards from some of the wine industry’s most important regional and national competitions in recent weeks.
Among the big winners were Diemersdal, De Grendel, Nitida, Meerendal, Altydgedacht and newcomer D’Aria. Their wines have claimed trophies and gold medals at such leading wine shows as the Michelangelo International Wine Awards, Winemakers’ Choice Diamond Awards, South African Young Wine Show and the South African Terroir Wine Awards.
Although it was often a Sauvignon Blanc that took top spot, cementing Durbanville’s longstanding reputation as the ideal terroir for this classic cool-climate variety, it was the excellent performance by several red wines that showcased the area’s versatility in producing top-quality wines across the varietal and style spectrum. Joining the more traditional Durbanville red varietal stars of Shiraz and Merlot are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage and the rarity, Barbera. Accolades for a red blend and a rosé further prove the area’s penchant for quality reds in general.
Chairman of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association and Meerendal marketing manager Bennie Howard attributes Durbanville wines’ successes to the area’s outstanding viticultural terroir, long one of Cape wine growers’ best-kept secrets. ‘It’s one of the coolest regions in the winelands because of its proximity to the chilly Atlantic – less than 15km away and in view from many of the farms – and because of the altitude of its hills. Vines are exposed to mists and the summer southeaster blowing in from False Bay on the Indian Ocean side. These hills also offer a range of cooler and warmer aspects, allowing different varieties to be planted and giving different styles of wine from the same variety, but invariably sharing an elegance and fruitiness. And the soils are ideal: ancient, shale-derived, deep and well-drained, but good at holding moisture during dry spells. Plus, we have growers and winemakers committed to exploiting this great potential.’
First up on the list of Durbanville’s recent successes were the 2008 Michelangelo International Wine Awards. One of South Africa’s leading national competitions since its inception in 1997, it’s run according to Paris-based Office International de la Vigne et du Vin rules, with a judging panel comprising international wine experts complemented by one South African taster. The Grand Prix Runner-Up (essentially the second-best wine on show) was the Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2008. The name reflects the origin of this distinctively racy Sauvignon Blanc, made from selected bunches picked from a specific vineyard block on the 17th-century farm where the Louw family has been making wine for six generations.
Two other Durbanville cellars were also awarded Michelangelo Grand D’Or (double gold) awards, both for red wines. The Nitida Shiraz 2005 follows in the footsteps of its multi-award-winning predecessors and is one of owner/winemaker Bernhard Veller’s flagship wines. The Altydgedacht Barbera 2006 is one of only a handful of South African wines made from an Italian grape variety pioneered by the Parker family on this historic estate, one of the oldest in the country with a cellar dating back to 1705.
Four more Durbanville wines won Michelangelo gold medals, three of them from Diemersdal: Diemersdal MM Louw Unfiltered Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Diemersdal Private Collection Red Blend 2005 and Diemersdal Barrel Selected Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. The fourth gold went to the Altydgedacht Cabernet Franc Rosé 2008, offering wine lovers a fine example of what has re-emerged as a trendy style of wine.
Next came the Winemakers’ Choice Diamond Awards, in which submissions are judged blind by a panel of some of the Cape’s top winemakers representing the Cape’s various wine regions. Only one type of award is given – the Diamond – to those wines deemed the finest expression of their respective varieties or style categories. This accolade seldom befalls more than about 10% of the total number of entrants.
This year, the distinctive silver diamond-shaped seal of approval was earned by four Durbanville wines. In the sauvignon blanc category, the Diemersdal Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was given the nod. In the section for white blends, De Grendel Winifrid 2008 came through. Made by seasoned vintner Charles Hopkins at Sir De Villiers Graaff’s exciting new cellar beneath the Tygerberg hills overlooking Table Mountain and Table Bay, it is a partially barrel-fermented blend of Chardonnay, Semillon and Viognier. Reds from both farms also received the accolade in their respective categories: De Grendel Tijgerberg Shiraz 2007 and Diemersdal Pinotage 2007.
A new Durbanville wine name causing a stir is D’Aria. At the South African Young Wine Show, winemaker Rudi von Waltsleben’s D’Aria Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was awarded a gold medal, adding the D’Aria label to the substantial list of top-notch Sauvignon Blancs coming out of this area.
Finally, an excellent showing by Durbanville reds at the South African Terroir Wine Awards highlighted the area’s rich viticultural diversity. Only wines certified by the Wine and Spirit Board as originating from a specific wine ward, estate or single vineyard are eligible. The award for top merlot went to De Grendel Merlot 2006, while Meerendal Bin 159 Shiraz 2006 was judged the best Shiraz. The latter is one of three new flagship wines from Meerendal, another of Durbanville’s wine farms with a winemaking heritage stretching back to the beginnings of the 18th century and rejuvenated in recent years to become a mecca for lovers of fine wine and food.
Wine lovers and connoisseurs alike enjoyed a foretaste of what this small but varied ‘wine route’ has to offer when the eleven member wineries of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association hosted a weekend of festivities early in September. The two-day ‘open house’ event, dubbed the ‘Season of Sauvignon’, was conceived to introduce the latest vintage of the area’s superior Sauvignon Blanc wines – together with food, music and fun for the whole family. But, in the days that followed, the string of national and regional awards garnered for reds as well, has shown that the Durbanville valley provides the complete package when it comes to a winelands destination.
The tasting facilities of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association are Altydgedacht, Bloemendal, D’Aria, De Grendel, Diemersdal, Durbanville Hills, Hillcrest, Nitida and Meerendal.
For more information email the Durbanville Wine Valley Association on
or visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za
 Download this press release as a Word document > (31 KB)
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Ollo Parker (Altydgedacht), Grettchen Visagie (D’Aria), Jacus Marais (Nitida), Elzette du Preez (De Grendel), Mari van der Merwe (Diemersdal) |
Winemakers of the Durbanville Wine Valley proved their mettle by raking in four gold and two double gold awards at Veritas 2008. By winning accolades across diverse varieties and styles - from Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz to Pinotage and Merlot - the Durbanville Wine Valley smashes the myth that it’s a white wine-only achiever.
Winemaker Rudi von Waltsleben’s D’Aria The Songbird Sauvignon Blanc 2008 was awarded double gold, adding extra lustre to the young cellar’s Veritas debut. De Grendel Shiraz 2007, made by cellar master Charles Hopkins, earned double gold two years running, while De Grendel Merlot 2006 clinched gold as well.
Also winning Veritas Gold were Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2008, Diemersdal Pinotage 2007 (one of only five golds awarded for Pinotage) and Nitida Sauvignon Blanc Club Selection 2008.
Being awarded a gold/double gold is no mean feat, as the Veritas Awards, now in its seventeenth year, have become the gauge for excellence and quality in the wine industry. From the 1 753 entries the 105 distinguished judges bestowed the coveted Veritas symbol on only the best of the best.
“We are very proud of our top awards at Veritas,” says Bennie Howard, chairman of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association. “The three award-winning Sauvignon Blanc wines are a true example of why our cool climate region produces such good Sauvignons, while the reds - Shiraz, Merlot and Pinotage - show the diversity that Durbanville can produce.
Howard attributes the successes of the Durbanville Wine Valley to the area’s outstanding viticultural terroir and the commitment of the growers and winemakers to harness its full potential. “The hills and valleys, so typical of the area, offer a range of cooler and warmer aspects, allowing different varieties to be planted and giving different styles of wine from the same variety, but invariably sharing an elegance and fruitiness.”
Several members of the Durbanville Wine Valley also recently claimed trophies and gold medals at other leading wine shows, including the Michelangelo International Wine Awards, Winemakers’ Choice Diamond Awards, South African Young Wine Show and the South African Terroir Wine Awards.
For full results visit www.veritas.co.za. For more information on the Durbanville Wine Valley Association e-mail
or visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za
Download this press release as a Word document > (33 KB) |
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Winners of the 2008 SA Terroir Wine Awards |
Two wines of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association were awarded with the top accolades at the third SA Terroir Wine Awards ceremony recently held at the Meerendal Wine estate outside Durbanville.
This competition, which was founded by Durbanville wine writer, Mr Marius Labuschagne, was presented this year with a record of 178 entries.
The Meerendal Bin 159 Shiraz 2006 was awarded as the top Shiraz in the country, while the De Grendel Merlot 2006 was awarded as the top Merlot.
The SA Terrior Awards, sponsored by Novare, display the wines that are certified for specific areas within the Cape Winelands. The SA Terrior Wine Awards, with the cooperation of the Wine and Spirit Board, strictly apply the rule that only wines certified as single vineyard, estate or from a specific ward can participate, said Marius Labuschagne, project director of the SA Terrior Awards.
“At the SA Terroir Wine Awards this year we all agreed that Shiraz and Chardonnay were the two most competitive categories,” he said. Most entries were Shiraz (26) and red blends (26), followed by Sauvignon Blanc (24), Chardonnay (17) and Cabernet Sauvignon (12).
The judges were Charl Theron, Dave Hughes, David Biggs, Susan Wessels and Clive Torr.
Congratulations to Meerendel and De Grendel on a superb performance!
Download as Word 2008 document > (11 KB) |
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The Durbanville Wine Valley’s Sauvignon Blancs raked in four places in the recently launched Wine magazine TOPS at SPAR Sauvignon Blanc Top 10.
Bloemendal, De Grendel, Diemersdal and Nitida were each awarded 4 stars. Another two of the winning wines on the list, Backsberg John Martin 2007 and Graham Beck Pheasant’s Run 2007, also procure their grapes from farms in the Durbanville Wine Valley, affirming that it is the premier Sauvignon Blanc producing region.
The Durbanville Wine Valley’s Sauvignon Blancs have enjoyed tremendous success and have scooped numerous awards over the past few months. “The largest concentration of Sauvignon Blanc grapes in the country grows in the Durbanville Wine Valley and thanks to the cooler coastal climate and long-established vineyards, winemakers from this region have become known for their outstanding Sauvignon Blancs,” says Bennie Howard, chairman of the Durbanville Wine Valley Association.
Bloemendal Sauvignon Blanc Suider Terras 2006 has a nasturtium and green pepper nose and goes well with fresh asparagus or creamy pastas. De Grendel Koetshuis 2007 bursts with layers of grass, pepper and asparagus flavours and has a distinctive mineral complexity. Satellite mapping of their large Sauvignon Blanc vineyard showed uneven ripening. Picking was therefore very selective and took place on separate occasions, with just one of these batches being from the Koetshuis block. It’s so different in style to the De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc that an exception was made this year to bottle it as the Koetshuis.
Diemersdal 8 Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2007 is a wine that shows strong minerality and flinty elegance on the nose, following through on the palate with a full mouth feel and healthy acid. This is one of five Sauvignon Blanc wines that this wine estate makes. Nitida Sauvignon Blanc 2007 has a concentrated fruit character, sustained freshness and balance and delicate aromas of nettles and grass. Pasta or grilled Cape Salmon will prove worthy companions.
The Wine magazine TOPS at SPAR Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 awards have been established to champion the best examples of this grape.
For more information on the Durbanville Wine Valley, call 083 310 1228.
Download as Word document > (142 KB) |
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Michelle van Staden, from the Durbanville Wine Valley Association, hands a giant cheque to the Rotary Club of Durbanville president, Robert Consani. |
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Thys Louw (Left) congratulates Mr Hein Ehlers on the highest bid for the night, made for a barrel of Diemersdal red and an opportunity to harvest on the estate during vintage 2008. |
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Members of the DWVA with their lots for Auction. |
The Durbanville community was out in force on the 9th of November 2007 at the Barn & Lawn, Meerendal Estate to support a gala Wine and Art evening hosted by Durbanville Wine Valley, Rotary of Durbanville and Tygertalk.
The event at which top wines from the Durbanville wine farms were matched and served to fine dining dishes by three of Durbanville’s top chefs culminated in the auction at which brisk bidding on the lots donated by the DWVA members resulted in the total of R46 100 raised on the night.
Durbanville Rotary will administer the funds raised on behalf of the Durbanville farm schools. The decision regarding what equipment to buy will be taken with input from the Durbanville Farm Schools Trust.
Among the treats this year, with funds raised from years’ event was a bus trip and art lessons, with a mid morning snack, as well as book prizes at the end of the year for the top academic student and runner up in the top three grades at each school. In the top two grades, the top learners in Maths, English also received a book. All the prize winners also went home with a smart backpack and some Lindt chocolates. Food for the mind and for the tummy.
The Durbanville Wine Valley, Rotary Durbanville and Tygertalk are proud to be partners in reaching out to bring the joy of art to our community’s farm school children. |
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