It has magnificent views of almost the whole peninsula from the top of their hill, with views to False Bay and Table Bay. It was established in 1700 as part of Hazendal estate, subdivided as a separate property in 1806 and the current farm house was built in 1832. It is owned by the Roos family. Louis Roos is the winemaker, his brother Tielman Roos is the Viticulturalist.
Dirk Roos, their cousin, does the marketing and the Langtafel lunches, which are held approximately every six to eight weeks through the year. Dirk is a keen cook and the food was absolutely delicious. Mooiplaas is a conservation area; they have a mountain bike trail and lovely flower walks in the Spring.
We met in the historic tasting room. It was built as a kraal early in the farm’s history. Some time later, probably about 1806, the walls were built higher and given a roof, which turned it into a stable for the farm’s draught horses. It was attached to the first small, humble house. We were given a taste of their current Sauvignon Blanc and small canapés of smoked snoek. When all our members had arrived, we moved to the lawn in front of the Mooiplaas farm house, now a national monument, where we tasted their MCC Mooiplaas Duel NV, which Louis opened by sabrage. This is one of the best Cape Classique bubblies we have tasted in a long time; a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it is very French in style with brioche on the nose and crisp clean and long flavours and a bargain at R127 on the farm.
We then proceeded into the farmhouse, where the long table seating 27 stretches through the voorkamer (parlour) into the lounge beyond. This farmhouse is still occupied by the Roos elders, who generously give up their main rooms for the lunch.Click here to see the photos. We had a marvellous time and many of us went home with some wine. If you want to take part in one of these lunches you need to contact Dirk Roos at www.mooiplaas.co.za The tasting room is a good place to start and is open from 9 to 4 Mondays to Fridays and 9 to 2 on Saturdays."
- Lynne & John Ford, Main Ingredient -