What I love most about the farm is its constant demonstration of Nature’s Raw Power. The team’s profound love for Nature is a common thread that binds us all, though for each of us it’s a deeply personal connection. Last week, some guests commented to me as they were leaving that the view from The Tasting Room was outstanding and captivating — the view of the vineyards on Rondekop was brilliantly juxtaposed against the rugged mountain backdrop. They said they were truly captivated.
While the view is spectacular, what fascinates me most is the ability to watch and interact with Nature. In September, the farm is always a hive of activity – everything is coming alive at a pace. Next to The Homestead, the lily pond plays home to the weaver birds showing off their incredible nesting skills. The males build, and the job is completed only when the nest is to their partner’s satisfaction. Sometimes, they make as many as seven nests before ‘she’ is happy!
September brings budburst — it’s like the starting gun to the marathon that each vintage becomes. It is almost explosive as the tiny buds on the vine go from looking like old wood to briefly swelling, and these tiny leaves nearly grow in front of your eyes. I often walk the vineyards morning and evening, and I know that when I walk this evening, much would have happened from just a few hours earlier. The beauty of the vineyards in this season is truly inspiring.
Whilst the rain and cold of the past winter are on the wane and the sun’s warmth begins to gather pace, the winds are now on the rise. We have had some pretty big south-easterlies over the past few weeks. The big winds are not pleasant! The Mistral in France is often said to make people crazy and having lived in Provence, I understand; however the Southeasters in the Cape can (in my opinion) be next level! Sometimes there will be damage to the new leaves on the vines, yet generally they are fine, and the damaged ones replace themselves almost immediately. Nature’s ability to adapt can match the raw power of the winds.
The vines may be awakening in the vineyards, but the cover crops are fully grown and now flowering, making Rondekop even more spectacular. Some of the rows of barley and mustard are waist high. There will be plenty for the pigs to eat, but they will have to be patient. During the spring and summer, Christo will use the cover crops to compete with the vines and slow their vigour through competition for moisture. Given the wet winter, this will probably be the plan. If things dry out too much, the cover crops can be rolled flat to protect the soil’s moisture levels. Finally, a little grazing will be allowed.
During the month, our Head Sommelier – Greg Lorimer – competed in the Best Young Sommelier of South Africa 2024, achieving a commendable 3rd place. The craft of wine service is taken very seriously in the country, and we are immensely proud of Greg for this fantastic achievement. In The Tasting Room, Greg runs a team of accomplished sommeliers who have excellent knowledge of all things wine, but to my mind the real gem is their individual and collective passion for telling the stories that bring it alive.
I am excited to introduce our guests to our Library Collection of back-vintage wines in The Tasting Room. Greg and Stefan have curated a selection of our past vintages, some of which are available in larger formats. The Library Collection is an integral part of our business and originates from our first-ever vintage, “Joshua”, the Maiden Vintage Syrah from 2007. At the time, I believed that wines are generally consumed too young and that ageing them brings the wonderful benefits of nuanced flavours that occur with time.
When one travels the full circle in wine, what makes it remarkable is that it begins as a way to work with Nature, becoming an encapsulation of what Nature does best. The wine is specific to a Place and from its birth in a vintage, it lives through time in barrel, then bottle; and finally – the glass from which it is consumed.
