April 2008 NewsletterHarvest 2008 in Durbanville
Vintage for the valiant! What can I say about the 2008 harvest? Except that most winemakers were getting itchy fingers when the harvest kicked off on average two weeks later than usual. This being said, as a rule, South Africa's winelands, unlike those of France, don't deliver bad vintages. We just have different challenges to face from one season to the next. But these, if tackled inventively, guide us to make the best wines from each vintage. Here is a round up from some of the Durbanville farms: D'Aria this year celebrated their first harvest in their brand new cellar. This state-of-the-art crushing facility became the envy of many a winemaker as it literally sprung up in record time. Winemaker Rudi von Waltsleben was receiving his Sauvignon Blanc grapes while contractors were still crawling around the cellar, completing last minute tasks. Thus far all has been going really well. Possible extensions to the existing range of D'Aria wines are in the pipeline for 2008. Durbanville Hills cellarmaster Martin Moore says: "Let me tell you, the 2008 season is not for sissies." He also says that the overall quality varied and crop sizes did not meet expectations set after the flowering stage, this mainly being due to constant strong winds and overcast conditions. These erratic conditions ensured that the sequence of ripening was very different from normal. He is however very pleased about the wines in his cellar and currently experiments with several yeast types and vineyards. At De Grendel they feel really blessed to have escaped problems with rot, mainly owing to the South Easter and its drying effect. Winemakers Charles Hopkins and Elzette du Preez are very excited about the quality in their cellar, although it is still early days. It is their philosophy to vinify many different parcels to ensure that they have various components to play around with and to ensure complexity when they make up the final blends. At Meerendal harvest kicked off on the 29th of January with the picking of Chardonnay for a bubbly. This year saw a smaller harvest than in the past, but overall quality is looking good and winemaker Liza Goodwin is very happy, particularly with the Pinotage that was picked from their 50 year old bush vines. Liza is experimenting with a specific barrel supplier with barrels from various forests. An exchange programme was also initiated this year which saw Spaniard Natalia Callejo join Liza's team during harvest. Liza will be paying a return visit to Natalia in October for their harvest. This year also saw the addition of a new team member in the cellar at Nitida, winemaker RJ Botha joined the winemaking team of Bernhard Veller and Jacus Marias for the 2008 vintage. The team are happy with the quality of the juice in the cellar to date, especially as some of the red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot took their time to ripen towards the end of the picking season. The unsettled weather in the period prior and during harvest did cause some rot in the Semillon, which is a grape variety that is notoriously susceptible. Thys Louw and Mari van der Merwe, winemakers at Diemersdal, report having been very impressed with the quality of their Chardonnay, Merlot and Pinotage grapes. The weather of January had no effect on their overall quality and volumes, with a little rot only being evident in their last block of Sauvignon Blanc. Machine harvesting on this farm means very little sleep for the winemakers during harvest time. Long hours and hard work have however not prevented experimentation with new yeast cultures and different skin contact techniques in their red wines. Altydgedacht has new things in the pipeline. Owner, Ollo Parker and winemaker, Etienne Louw are very excited about the possibility of making a bubbly and a white blend this year. However, as with all good things in life, these new wines will take time and we will have to be patient. Overall quality of their 2008 harvest is looking good, particularly the Sauvignon Blanc, although they definitely had a smaller harvest in terms of tonnage than in past years. On Hillcrest Estate the 2008 vintage presented similar challenges as on most of the other farms in the Durbanville area, namely unexpected late rains and later harvest dates. Harvest on average started approximately two weeks later than in past years and Graeme Read and Chris Alheit report a much lighter yield, particularly with regard to Sauvignon Blanc,. This however has not prevented them to embark on experimentation with different yeasts on their various picked batches of Sauvignon which will hopefully result in some interesting blending components. Harvest 2008 was not business as usual on Bloemendal. In March the farm was sold to Indima, an agricultural subsidiary to Tokyo Sexwale's Mvelaphanda Holdings. According to reports in the press the farm will continue to operate as at present. DURBANVILLE HILLS CELEBRATES ITS 10TH HARVEST
A mere ten years ago the Durbanville Hills cellar celebrated its first wines. Although they have only been in the market for a relatively short while they today constitute one of the most popular super premium ranges in the country. From the first vintage in 1999 the cellar produced some memorable wines. Both the Luipaardsberg and the Biesjes Craal single-vineyard wines received double gold at Veritas while the Durbanville Hills Chardonnay was awarded gold. During that first vintage 3 126 tons of grapes were pressed and within a few years production moved up to reach the cellar's full capacity of 8 000 tons. Cellermaster Martin Moore, appointed in 1998 when the cellar was still in the early stages of construction, today recalls the tribulations of that first vintage with a certain fondness. "When the first grapes were delivered to the presses, work had not even started on the construction of that part of the building today housing the maturation cellar, restaurant and wine-tasting area. "Building rubble was everywhere. Construction work continued at full speed on the front of the building while at the back the producers' trucks queued up to offload. In those days we received two loads of concrete for every one of grapes," says Martin. Since that first vintage the cellar has continued to expand and refine its impressive selection of wines. These are grouped into three ranges, all reflecting the same level of craftsmanship. There is the Durbanville Hills range of accessible wines that form the stable base of its three-tiered offering ; the Rhinofields reserve range of wines made from the grapes of only two to three vineyard blocks; and the three single-vineyard, limited-release wines that form the apex of the triangle and are made only in exceptional years. The decision to establish Durbanville Hills was taken in 1998 when seven grape farmers approached Distell with the proposal that they build a cellar as a joint venture to make their own wine. When the cellar was started, the surrounding vineyards were already well established, with farmers following excellent viticultural practices. Today there are about 180 vineyard blocks, all of which are graded every year before the harvest for quality. After ten years the winemaking team knows exactly what to expect from each individual vineyard, helping them to develop a unique style that is a true reflection of the area, a style that combines the elegance of the Old World with the outspoken fruitiness of the New. In seeking out that elegance the winemakers continue the traditions of Europe as reflected in more than three centuries of winemaking at the Cape. Durbanville is, after Constantia, South Africa's oldest wine-growing area, and the first wine was already being made here by the end of the 17th century. This cool character is thanks to the Southeaster which, during the summer months and then mostly in the late afternoon, blows off False Bay over the Cape Flats, bringing cool, moist air. The wind is surprisingly cold as it comes sweeping over the contours of the hills, cooling down the vineyards even on the hottest day. And when the Southeaster is not blowing, a westerly wind comes off the cold Atlantic to do the same. Diemersdal Bottles and Release 1st 2008 Vintage Sauvignon Blanc
Easter was not the only thing early this year! Diemersdal bottled their 1st Sauvignon Blanc 2008 in the middle of March! Due to their 2007 vintage being sold out in many of the major retailers and from off the farm, the decision was taken to bottle the 2008 as soon as it was ready. Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc 2008 is best described as vibrant and classic - presents an alluring fruitiness and crisp acidity that can be enjoyed on its own! So please pay Diemersdal a visit and taste the freshest Sauvignon Durbanville has to offer!
Nitida shows Midas touch with two Gold Awards at Swiss International Airlines Wine Awards 2008Nitida scooped two coveted gold awards at the celebrated Swiss International Airlines Wine Awards for their Semillon 2007 & Shiraz 2006. Voted Europe's 'Best Airline' in 2008, Swiss International Airlines announced its prestigious Airline Awards early April at the Relais & Chateaux Cellars Hohenort. Overall only 34 gold's and 57 silver medals were awarded to the entrants in this prestigious competition. Congratulations to Bernhard Veller and his team on this great achievement! Internationally acclaimed singer, Dana Winner, visits Meerendal
Meerendal hosted one of the top singers from Europe on Sunday 30 March, when Dana Winner and her company visited the Estate at the conclusion of their South African Tour. After a tasting in the cellar, the company enjoyed a superb dinner created by Exec Chef Stephen Fraser at Wheatfields Restaurant.
Upcoming Events:
London Wine Trade Fair 2008 - 20 May to 22 May 2008 at Excel, London It's often said that the London International Wine Trade Fair is one of the important events in the world wine calendar. And for good reason. From supermarkets to importing agents, from restaurant chains to independent wine merchants, the LIWTF attracts buyers from every aspect of the Industry. Durbanville Wine Valley has been selected by Wines of South Africa as one of only seven stands on the WOSA pavilion to showcase regional wines. We are in good company with areas like Stellenbosch, Robertson, Darling, and Constantia that are also on exhibition. The Durbanville Wine Valley will present a selection of signature Sauvignon Blanc's and Merlot from the region. A Date to Diarize - Season of Sauvignon 2008
Springtime is Sauvignon Blanc time and the farms of Durbanville Wine Valley are throwing open their cellar door for visitors to enjoy the best the region has to offer. The Season of Sauvignon will be celebrated on 13 and 14 September 2008 on the various different wine farms in the Durbanville area. Great wine, fantastic food and music will once again be the order of the day. So diarize these dates, bring your whole family and join the Durbanville Wine Valley at this year's Season of Sauvignon. A detailed programme will be available soon.
© 2008 Durbanville Wine Valley
April 2008 nuusbrief2008-Oes in Durbanville
Nie 'n oes vir die beweriges nie! Wat meer kan ons oor die 2008-oes sê? Dalk dat die meeste wynmakers met jeukende vingers sit en wag het vir die druiwe wat vanjaar twee weke later as gewoonlik reg was. Maar by dié nuus moet darem ook gevoeg word dat Suid-Afrika, anders as Frankryk, nooit met swak oesjare te doene kry nie. Dis net dat elke seisoen sy eie uitdagings bied. Vindingryke oplossings bring die heel beste uit elke oesjaar se wyne na vore. Hier volg 'n kort oesverslag van plase om Durbanville: D'Aria het vanjaar se oes met 'n splinternuwe kelder verwelkom. Die modern-toegeruste gebou is met 'n tikkie afguns deur ander wynmakers bejeën terwyl dit in rekordtyd opgeskiet het. Toe wynmaker Rudi von Waltlsleben vir die eerste Sauvignon Blanc begin regstaan, was kontrakteurs nog deur die kelder aan't rondwoel om alles afgerond te kry. Sover gaan alles voor die wind. Daar is ook 'n moontlikheid dat die bestaande reeks D'Aria wyne vanjaar uitgebrei gaan word. Durbanville Hills se keldermeester Martin Moore som die oesjaar kort-en-kragtig op: "Die 2008-seisoen is nie vir sissies nie, kan ek jou sê." Gehalte was oor die algemeen wisselvallig en oesgroottes het weens die voortdurende sterk wind en bewolkte toestande sedert die blomstadium nie aan die verwagtinge voldoen nie. Die wisselende toestande het ook 'n erg afwykende rypwordingspatroon meegebring, vertel Moore. Nieteenstaande is hy in sy skik met die wyne in sy kelder en met die jongste gis- en wingerdblok eksperimente. Op De Grendel se mense voel geseën omdat die suidoos die wingerde droog en vry van vrot gehou het. Die wynmakers Charles Hopkins en Elzette du Preez is in hul noppies met die gehalte van die wyne, hoewel hulle toegee dat dit nog vroeg in die dag is. Hulle glo daaraan om soveel komponente as moontlik te berei om hulle 'n groter kans op kompleksiteit te bied wanneer die finale versnitte opgemaak word, Op Meerendal is die eerste Chardonnay al op 29 Januarie vir die maak van vonkelwyn gepars. Vanjaar se oes was kleiner as in die verlede, maar die gehalte lyk oor die algemeen goed en wynmaker Liza Goodwin is veral opgewonde oor haar Pinotage wat van 50 jaar oue bosstok gemaak is. Sy en 'n verskaffer van vate eksperimenteer met hout uit verskeie woude. Hulle het vanjaar ook aan 'n uitruilprogram deelgeneem en die Spanjaard Natalia Callejo tydens die oes in Liza se span gehad. Liza gaan tydens die Spaanse seisoen in Oktober weer vir Natalia help. Vanjaar het 'n nuwe lid hom ook by die span in Nitida se kelder aangesluit. RJ Botha het Bernhard Veller en Jacus Marias met die 2008-oes kom bystaan. In hierdie stadium is die span gelukkig met die gehalte van die sap nadat hulle maar naels gehou het oor die langdradige pas waarteen die Cabernet Sauvignon en Petit Verdot aan die einde van die seisoen ryp geword het. Semillon, berug vir sy vatbaarheid vir vrot, het weens die ongestadige weer voor en tydens die oes tekens hiervan begin toon. Diemersdal se wynmakers, Thys Louw en Mari van der Merwe, berig dat hulle baie in hul skik is met die gehalte van vanjaar se Chardonnay-, Merlot- en Pinotage-druiwe. Met die uitsondering van 'n tikkie vrot in die laaste blok Sauvignon Blanc, het Januarie se weer geen nadelige invloed op gehalte en volume gehad nie. Die snelle pas waarmee met masjiene op dié plaas geoes word, laat die wynmakers weinig ruskans toe, maar ondanks die lang ure en harde werk is heelwat proewe met giskulture en dopkontak vir rooiwyne vanjaar afgehandel. Op Altydgedacht word nuwe planne in die mou gevoer. Die eienaar, Ollo Parker en sy wynmaker, Etienne Louw, bruis van opgewondenheid oor 'n vonkelwyn en 'n wit versit. Soos met alle goeie dinge in die lewe, speel tyd hier ook 'n rol en sal ons maar geduldig op die resultaat moet wag. Die res van die 2008-oes, Sauvignon Blanc in die besonder, sien tot dusver goed daar uit, hoewel die tonnemaat kleiner as in die verlede was. On Hillcrest Estate the 2008 vintage presented similar challenges as on most of the other farms in the Durbanville area, namely unexpected late rains and later harvest dates. Harvest on average started approximately two weeks later than in past years and Graeme Read and Chris Alheit report a much lighter yield, particularly with regard to Sauvignon Blanc,. This however has not prevented them to embark on experimentation with different yeasts on their various picked batches of Sauvignon which will hopefully result in some interesting blending components. Hillcrest-landgoed het uitdagings soortgelyk aan dié van ander kelders in die streek ervaar, naamlik onverwagse laat reën en vertraagde oesdatums. Die oes het twee weke later as in vorige jare ingekom en Graeme Read en Chris Alheit sê dit was ligter, veral in die geval van Sauvignon Blanc. Dit het hulle egter nie daarvan weerhou om met verskillende gisrasse op verskeie bereidings van dié cultivar te eksperimenteer en met interessante boublokke vir toekomstige versnitte na vore te kom nie. Die 2008-oesjaar op Bloemendal was anders in die opsig dat die plaas in Maart aan Indima - 'n landbou-filiaal van Tokyo Sexwale se beheermaatskappy Mvelaphanda - verkoop is. Volgens mediaberigte sal bedrywighede op die plaas hul normale gang gaan. DURBANVILLE HILLS VIER SY TIENDE OESJAAR
Hoewel dit maar tien jaar is sedert Durbanville Hills sy eerste wyne geproduseer het, tel hulle vandag onder die voorste en mees gewilde superpremium-reekse wat plaaslik beskikbaar is. Die kelder produseer sedert sy eerste oesjaar in 1999 wyne van uitsonderlike gehalte. Twee van sy enkelwingerdwyne van daardie eerste oesjaar, die Luipaardsberg Merlot en die Biesjes Craal Sauvignon Blanc, het albei op Veritas dubbelgoud behaal terwyl 'n goue medalje aan die Durbanville Hills Chardonnay toegeken is. Daardie eerste oesjaar is 3 126 ton druiwe gepars. Hierdie volume het jaarliks aangegroei tot die maksimum van 8 000 ton bereik is. Martin Moore, wat in 1998 as keldermeester aangestel is toe nog skaars met konstruksiewerk begin is, dink vandag met 'n sekere wrang humor terug aan daardie eerste oes. "Toe die eerste druiwe gelewer is, was daar nog nie eens begin met werk aan die voorste deel van die gebou wat vandag die restaurant, die verouderingskelder en die proelokaal huisves nie. "Bourommel het oral gelê. Terwyl bouwerk teen vol spoed aan die voorkant van die kelder gevorder het, het die vragmotors aan die agterkant tou gestaan om druiwe af te laai. In daardie dae het daar twee vragmotors met beton teen een met druiwe by die hek ingery," het Moore gesê. Sedert daardie eerste oesjaar het die kelder voortgegaan om sy indrukwekkende reeks wyne te verfyn en uit te brei. Dié is in drie reekse ondergebring. Wat hulle gemeen het, is dieselfde vlak van gehalte en vakmanskap. Daar is die Durbanville Hills-reeks van toeganklike wyne wat die soliede basis van die kelder se drievlak-aanbieding vorm; die Rhinofields-reserwereeks waarvan die wyne gemaak word van die druiwe van net twee of drie wingerdblokke, en die drie enkelwingerdwyne wat die punt van die piramiede vorm en in beperkte hoeveelhede in uitsonderlike jare gemaak word. Die besluit om Durbanville te stig, is in 1998 geneem toe sewe druiweboere Distell genader het met die voorstel dat hulle as 'n gesamentlike onderneming 'n kelder oprig om hul druiwe tot wyn te maak. Toe met bouwerk aan die kelder begin is, was die omringende wingerde reeds lank gevestig, wingerde waarin daar reeds vir jare uitnemende wingerdboupraktyke gevolg is. Vandag is daar sowat 180 wingerdblokke wat elke jaar voor die oes op 'n gehaltegrondslag gegradeer word. Na tien oesjare weet die lede van die wynmaakspan presies wat om van elke wingerd te verwag en het hulle 'n unieke styl ontwikkel wat 'n ware weerspieëling van die aard van die area is, 'n styl wat die elegansie van die Ou Wêreld met die uitgesproke vrugtigheid van die Nuwe Wêreld kombineer. In hierdie strewe na elegansie werk die wynmakers voort in die Europese tradisie soos dit oor meer as drie eeue in wynmaak aan die Kaap 'n neerslag gevind het. Durbanville is ná Constantia, Suid-Afrika se oudste wynarea, en die eerste wyn is hier reeds teen die einde van die 17de eeu gemaak. Die is ook naas Constantia die koelste danksy die suidoos wat gedurende die somermaande en dan gewoonlik laatmiddag, van Valsbaai oor die Kaapse Vlakte waai en koel, klam lug invoer. Die wind is verbasend koud soos dit oor die heuwels swiep en koel die wingerde selfs op die hittigste dae af. En wanneer die suidoos nie waai nie, is daar 'n westewind van oor die koue Atlantiese Oseaan. 2008 Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc eerste uit die blokke
Dis nie net Paasfees wat vanjaar vroeg was nie. Diemersdal se 2008 Sauvignon Blanc was al teen middel Maart in die bottel en gereed vir die mark. Daar is besluiit om gou te spring aangesien die 2007 Diemersdal Sauvignon Blanc reeds deur vername kleinhandelaars en op die plaas self uitverkoop was. Die 2008 Diemersdall Sauvignon Blanc word as "lewendig en klassiek" beskryf - dit het 'n aanloklike vrugtigheid en krokante suur en is mans (of vrou!) genoeg om net so op sy eie geniet te word. Kom maak dus gerus 'n draai en proe die varsste Sauvignion Blanc wat die Durbanville Wynvallei kan bied!
Nitida trek twee goue hasies uit die hoed op Swiss International se toekennings vir 2008Nitida het twee goue toekennings op Swiss International Airlines se gesogte wyntoekennings met sy 2007 Semillon en 2006 Shiraz losgeslaan. Swiss International - wat vroeër vanjaar as Europa se top lugdiens aangewys is - het verlede week die uitslae van sy wynkompetisie by die Relais & Chateaux Cellars Hohenhort in die Kaap bekend gemaak. Altesame 34 goue- en 57 silwer medaljes is aan inskrywings vir die kompetisie toegeken. Benhard Veller en sy span word met hul prestasie geluk gewens! Intenasionaal bekende sangeres Dana Winner besoek Meerendal
Meerendal het op Sondag 30 Maart een van Europa se voorste sangers onthaal toe Dana Winner en haar groep die plaas aan die einde van hul Suid-Afrikaanse toer aangedoen het. Hulle is ná 'n proeëry in die kelder op 'n uitmuntende maal deur die uitvoerende sjef, Stephen Fraser, in die Wheatfields Restaurant onthaal.
Wat's aan die kom?
London Wine Trade Fair 2008 - 20 tot 22 Mei by Excel, Londen Daar word nie om dowe neute vertel dat die Londense Tentoonstelling vir die Internasionale Wynhandel een van die heel belangrikste gebeurtenisse op die internasionale wynkalender is nie. Almal wat iets met die verkoop van wyn te doen het, stroom jaarliks na dié tentoonstellintg; supermark-aankopers, invoerders, restaurant-groepe en onafhanklike wynhandelaars … noem maar op, hulle is daar. Wines of Souith Africa het die Durbanville Wynvallei genooi om sy produkte by een van slegs sewe stalletjies vir Suid-Afrikaanse streekswyne in die WOSA-pawiljoen te kom wys. Ons geniet hier die goeie geselskap van streke soos Stellenbosch, Robertson, Darling en Constantia. Durbanville Wynvallei gaan met trots sy Sauvignon Blancs en Merlots met karakter eie aan ons streek te proe aanbied. 'n Datum om aan te teken - Seisoen van Sauvignon 2008
Lente is Sauvignon Blanc-tyd en plase in die Durbanville Wynvallei gaan die komende lente weer hul kelderdeure vir besoekers oopgooi om die beste uit die streek te kom proe. Die Seisoen van Sauvignon word op 13 en 14 September 2008 op verskeie plase in die Durbanville-omgewing gevier. Fyn wyne, fantastiese kos en lekker musiek gaan weer eens vir 'n dag der dae sorg. Teken sommer nou al die datum aan, bring die hele gesin saam en word deel van die pret op die Durbanville Wynvallei se Seisoen van Sauvignon. 'n Gedetaïlleerde program word binnekort bekend
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