The state-of-the-art cellars of Pulpit Rock are situated on the foothills of the Kasteelberg Mountain in the Riebeek Valley in the Swartland region – the “pulpit” being a well known piece of the craggy background of these lands. There are two vast barrel maturation cellars including a 1,000 ton overall production capacity in the Brink Family cellars. Modern and innovative, these are winemakers unafraid to experiment. This plastic bottle is 100% recyclable, light and easy to carry, is produced with less energy than glass, is robust and will not break and being 1/10th of the weight of glass saved considerable C02 emissions in shipment from South Africa.
Pinotage, Bain’s Way, Wellington, South Africa
Named after a legendary South African pioneer, Andrew Bain, who built the road that connected the Cape to the north of the country and ran through the Wamakersvallei (valley of the wagons) where in 1941 a group of like-minded grape growers founded a central cellar for the pressing of their grapes. The cellar grew its members and boasted a variety of fine wine brands for an even wider variety of wine lovers. The grapes for their Pinotage were picked at optimum maturity and fermented on the skins at 28°C. Thereafter the free-run portion was placed in second and third fill (having been used twice and three times already) oak barrels for 9 to12 months.
Viognier, Wide River Wine Cellars, Robertson, South Africa
The great diversity of terroir of the Robertson Valley is a major contributing factor to the quality and character of the wines made here, from the rich soils near the river, to the shale and sandstone on the lower slopes of the Langeberg Mountains to the gravelly soils higher up. The Robertson Valley is around 100 miles from Cape Town, between these foothills to the lower reaches of the Breede River. The area is perfect for grape growing with unlimited sunshine and cooling sea breezes. Forty-three growers, many of them fourth generation, supply the modern winery with grapes from a mighty total of 2000 hectares. This has the tell-tale mouthfeel and viscous texture of Viognier, with honeyed apricot flavours and limes on the palate.
The Rustler Pinotage 2012
Bruce Jack is one of the most passionate, innovative and contagiously enthusiastic winemakers you’ll ever meet. No wonder his wines are always so thrilling to taste. He was awarded South Africa’s ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2009 and his cellar, Flagstone, based in a former dynamite factory just 400 metres from the sea in Somerset West, scooped ‘Winery of the Year’ in 2008. Bruce believes in handcrafted wines that capture the essence of the vineyard, that don’t ‘stress to impress’ – which is why he loves Pinotage, a uniquely South African variety that delivers a full whack of fruity depth supported by gentle tannins.Velvety and weighty, this red requires hearty fare as accompaniment – roast beef or lamb, game sausages or moussaka perhaps.
Seismic, Saronsberg Estate, Coastal Region, South Africa
Nestled at the foot of the mountain after which it is named, Saronsberg wine estate is a contemporary addition to the rich heritage of Tulbagh Valley – an ancient wine region situated 120 kms north-east of Cape Town. It was formed late in 2002, with the aim of producing exceptional wines that express the character and quality of their unique origin. In October 2003, Dewaldt Heyns joined as winemaker? just in time to witness the final construction of Saronsberg’s cutting edge cellar and avant-garde tasting room. Harvest of the maiden vintage began on 25 January 2004 at 06:01 (Dewaldt misjudged the one minute walk from his house to the cellar), when the farm’s first Sauvignon Blanc grapes were gathered.