Topiary Wines, Franschhoek's latest boutique winery, launches its wine from elegant new tasting room
Monday, 18 February, 2008
Topiary Wines
Situated in the foothills of the Wemmershoek Mountains, surrounded by fynbos and fauna of the Franschhoek Wetlands, lie the vineyards of Franschhoek's newest boutique cellar, Topiary Wines.
In three short years, owner Roy Andrews has converted La Tramontane farm into a model winery. Together with winemaker Chris Albrecht, and farm manager and viticulturist Malcolm Pemberton, Roy has rejuvenated the 17 hectares of vineyards, planted another 3 hectares, built a cellar and a tasting room, and nurtured two harvests through the cellar.
The name Topiary was inspired by the numerous sculpted plants (the art of topiary is trimming bushes and hedges into decorative shapes) surrounding the new tasting room, including the welcoming San hunter topiaries who provide a unique greeting to visitors to the winery and tasting room. Roy equates his development of the new and novel Topiary brand with the art of sculpting bushes and trees, "Both require the manipulation of plant growth to a higher end - art forms that require a passion and attention to detail that we believe is becoming more and more evident in our wines."
The Topiary team takes the dictum, that great wine begins in the vineyards, very seriously. When Roy bought the farm in 2005 he immediately set about adjusting viticultural practices to optimise fruit quality. Plant health and vigour are monitored throughout the growing season to provide small yields and full fruit ripeness. Three key areas, soil fertilization, irrigation management, and canopy management have been targeted. Of its 63 hectares, the farm has 20 hectares under vines, which were planted in stages over the past nine years - Shiraz 10 ha; Cabernet Sauvignon 7 ha; Chardonnay 2 ha; and Chenin Blanc 0.5 ha.
Winemaking in the impressive new cellar is based on elevating this fine fruit with the minimum of human intervention. "Our vision is to produce premium wines by using best-quality practices through every step of the value chain. We aim to maintain the high standards of winemaking recently demonstrated by select winemakers in the Franschhoek Valley," says Roy Andrews.
The Topiary launch wines are:
- Chenin Blanc 2007: Hints of guava and kiwi fruit. Well balanced and ideal for those long lunches on sunny days. Unwooded.
- Chardonnay 2007: Classic fruit-driven Chardonnay with strong tones of pineapple and citrus freshness - lightly oaked.
- Rosé 2007: Beautiful, delicate pink colour with a lively, floral bouquet. Shows raspberry on a clean and dry palate. Super summer drinking.
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2005: Rich, red berry notes with supple and balanced tannins, giving this full-bodied wine a well-rounded finish.
The Topiary tasting room
Topiary's fine wines can be sampled and savoured in the estate's charming Cape Vernacular tasting room, now open to the public. Currently 26 of Malcolm's topiaries adorn the cellar surrounds and the topiary garden in front of the tasting room will be an ever-unfolding creative masterpiece, periodically boasting new sculptures and shapes.
Visitors will soon be challenged to find their way through an intricate maze and announce their triumph by ringing the bell in the centre. Visitors to the Topiary tasting room can experience the incomparable visual splendour of the Franschhoek Valley. The tasting room is open for tasting and sales from Monday to Friday (9h30 to 17h00) and Saturdays (10h00 to 16h00).