In
about 2007 the group of wineries from the Stanford area formed the Stanford
Wine Growers Association. The motive was to get acquainted with one another,
attempt to market their wines jointly and pool viticultural, winemaking and
other management information.
“The
idea to establish a wine route has always been on the cards and although this
has taken longer than anticipated, we are overjoyed that the planhas come
together” says Chairman Tariro Masayiti from Springfontein. “And we are most
grateful for the financial assistance provided by the Overstrand Municipality
in this regard,” he added.
Stanford
is close to the southernmost tip of Africa, making it one of South Africa’s
coolest wine producing regions. The vineyards enjoy a cool ripening season, the
result of the strong cooling winds that are prevalent in summer. These are of
course ideal conditions for the production of top quality and award winning
wines, according to Masayiti.
The
town of Stanford is about 25 km from Hermanus and falls within the popular Cape
Whale Coast Route. This Victorian influenced village on the banks of the Klein
River is considered by many as an undiscovered gem but is fast becoming a
popular weekend getaway destination as it is a mere 150 km from Cape Town. A
wide variety of accommodation establishments abound and there is much to
explore and experience in the area.
The
route is relatively small with only eight members at this stage.
However,everybody agrees that expansion is inevitable as Stanford’s unique
terroir is bound to lurenew entrepreneurs andsome existing producers have
indicated that they toowant to be part of this new venture.
The members include:
Misty Mountains Estate
Springfontein
Sir Robert Stanford Estate
Stanford Hills
Walker Bay Vineyards
Vaalvlei
Raka
Boschrivier
Please see attached document
with more info on the individual farms attached.
The route
will host a public launch at the popular Friday night market in Stanford on 27
November this year and will also join forces at the annual Stanford Stumble the
next day.
Says Masayiti: “Now the
really hard work starts!”
More about the Wineries:
Misty Mountains Estate
This is the first winery visitors will encounter when
travelling from Hermanus on the R43.
Legend has it that the name comes from the fog that
develops on the lagoon quite close by and ascends the mountain leaving it
veiled in a misty shroud.
It is owned by Gauteng business man, André van Vuuren,
who bought it in 2004, establishing the first vineyards in 2005. The first
vintage was produced in 2008. Robert Davis is the General Manager with
Stellenbosch University educated Neil Patterson consulting as winemaker.
Of the farm’s 46 hectares, 16 ha are mostly under
Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz vines. Four hectares higher up on the property are
earmarked to be planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for their first Méthode
Cap Classique.
Apart from the vineyards the farm also features olive
trees and bottles water from its own natural source under the Misty Mountain
label. Exciting new developments are on the cards with a deli, a cheese
factory, a micro-brewery and guest accommodation, to name but a few.
For the time being the tasting room is open 6 days per
week where cheese platters are offered and the wines on offer can be sampled.
Website currently under construction
Springfontein
The
property lies south, on the opposite side of the Klein River.
A dream to create a project involving family and
friends inspired owner Dr. Johst Weber to purchase the farm in 1994. The cool,
windy Walker Bay climate and limestone soils proved to bring out the best in
the Chenin Blanc and Pinotage, the grape varieties they decided to specialize
in. Winemaker Tariro Masayiti and horticulturist/viticulturist Hildegard
Witbooi work side by side to coax the very best grapes from their unique
terroir for their selection of handcrafted, award winning wines.
Their tasting room is
open 7 days a week and the new Springfontein Bar(n) opening on 1 October, promises
a new pairing experience with snacks and wine.
The farm also offers
accommodation in a handful of beautifully decorated cottages and the restaurant
run by Michelin starred chef Jürgen Schneider and his partner Suzanne, is a
must do on anybody’s bucket list.
http://www.springfontein.co.za/
Sir Robert Stanford Estate
This winery is just off the R43 and about one kilometre
before the town of Stanford.
The estate, established in 1855 and once owned by the
entrepreneur Sir Robert Stanford, lies on the southern slopes of the
Kleinrivier Mountains, believed to be the southernmost mountain range in South
Africa. It is one of Walker Bay’s oldest wine establishments dating back to the
1890’s. Vineyard blocks on granite soils overlook the Klein River Valley and
benefit from the cool maritime breezes. Approximately 60 hectares of the farm
is planted with amongst others Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. More
than 200 Fynbos species, a bounty of
wildlife and vineyards managed to exist in harmony, has earned the estate a
Biodiversity and Wine Initiative Championship award. A delicious and wholesome
freshly prepared meal at Madré’s Kitchen should not be missed while a visit to
the Stookhuis distillery or art studio literally adds gusto and colour to your
visit.
http://www.robertstanfordestate.co.za/Home.html
Stanford Hills
The farm, owned by Peter and Jami Kastner, is next
door to Sir Robert Stanford Estate. Here, on the estate with its magnificent
vistas, they produce their range of wines that includes Sauvignon Blanc,
Chardonnay, Shiraz and Pinotage. They also grow flowers for the export market,
roses for the local
market as well as olives.
The original old farmhouse, believed to have been
built in 1855 by the founder of the village, became a school for girls and
today offers accommodation to tourists visiting the area.
The farm’s restaurant and wine tasting facility, The
Tasting Room, is extremely popular and constantly packed with visitors. The
chalkboard menu changes daily and always offers an interesting variety of
options. The kitchen uses local organic and free-range products wherever
possible, as the chef has a strong belief that using quality fresh, local
ingredients make memorable meals.
The full range of Estate wines are sold at cellar door price to
restaurant guests.
Stanford Hills is the ideal place for a family visit as it is extremely
child friendly.
http://www.stanfordhills.co.za/
Walker Bay Vineyards
Virtually around the corner from the above wineries and just outside
Stanford village is Walker Bay Vineyards, a boutique wine estate which is also
home to the Birkenhead Brewery.
Vines were planted for the first time in 2003 and they released their
maiden vintage Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay in 2007 followed shortly
afterwards by their red blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and
Petit Verdot.
The ±20 hectares of vines planted on clay-textured
soils and benefitting from the prevailing cool winds from the ocean now also
include Shiraz.
The winery conducts tours of the brewery, wine and
beer tastings and runs a restaurant and pub that not only offers mouth-watering
meals but also the most spectacular views of the Klein River Mountains.
Alternatively you can settle down on the vast green lawn with a sumptuous
picnic, enjoying a magnificent sunset.
http://www.walkerbayestate.com/
Vaalvlei
This is the smallest producer on the route with a mere 3 hectares under
vines. The farm, established in 2005 belongs to Naas Terblanche, a passionate
conservationist and winemaker.
The vines grow on predominantly sandstone and koffieklip soils and comprise only two
cultivars, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. Walker Bay, which can be seen from the
vineyards, lends a cool maritime climate to the area and making the production
of elegant white wines and classical red wines possible.
The Terblanche family is committed to conservation and
strive to protect the indigenous plants and birds of the region and in
particular the13 frog species that occur in their wetland.
Vaalvlei offers farm cottage accommodation where
guests can relax, enjoy the beautiful surroundings and try their hand at a bit
of fly fishing.
With his passion for the environment Naas not only
opted to choose the endangered Western Leopard Toad for his wine labels but also
runs a permanent audio visual display in his tasting room.
http://www.vaalvlei.co.za/
Raka
A drive further up the valley on the R362 takes you to
this family owned cellar. Owner Piet Dreyer bought the farm Remhoogte in 1982
and in 1999 established the first vineyards. In 2002 he decided to swap the
ocean for the wine industry after spending more than three decades in the
fishing industry. He named the farm and its wines after his beloved black
fishing vessel, Raka.
The farm is
situated in a narrow valley in the Klein River Mountains and the vineyards are
planted on diverse soils either side of the Klein River that flows through the
valley. Plantings include a wide variety of grape cultivars e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon,
Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Shiraz, Mourvédre, Petit Verdot, Pinotage,
Sangiovese and white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.
Raka is a family run concern with son Joseph taking
charge of the cellar, Pieter managing the farm and vineyards, only daughter
Jorika looking after the marketing and parents Piet and Elna ever present to
entertain visitors with their relics and anecdotes from days of yore.
http://rakawine.co.za/
Boschrivier Wines
Right next door to Raka is Boschrivier Wines, a small
family-owned wine farm that actually consists of the two farms Boschkloof and
Remhoogte. The farms belong to Dr Theodore (Ficky) de Villiers and lie at the
foot of the picturesque Akkedisberg Mountain range with the Klein River running
along the edge of the farm. The farms fall into the Klein River Wine Ward which
forms part of the Overberg Wine Region. The Bosch River (running along the
upper part of the farm) was the inspiration for the label.
In 2001 the first bottle of Boschrivier Shiraz was
produced and since then the focus was on producing a boutique Shiraz of
exceptional quality. In 2013 three new wines were added to the range: Rosé,
Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
http://www.boschrivier.co.za/