Set amongst poplars and oaks, Altydgedacht Estate (meaning ‘always in your thoughts’) is rustic, authentic and seemingly timeless. The earliest homestead was replaced over time, but the original white-washed ringmuur, slave-bell, outbuildings and wine cellar all still stand proud. Built from ‘koffieklip’ (clay bricks) in the early 1700's, the Altydgedacht wine cellar is one of the few remaining original cellars still operational in the Cape today.
Dating back to 1698, the farm was established when Simon van der Stel handed the title deeds to one Elsje van Suurwaarde, whose husband, like all Dutch East India Company officials, was not permitted to own land. After outliving three husbands, Elsje continued to farm alone, with the help of her 16 slaves. It was Elsje who commissioned the construction of the wine cellar in 1702. After her death, the farm passed through many hands until 1852 when it was bought by the Parker family who still own the farm today.
Fifth generation owners, John Parker, the farm’s viticulturist and younger brother, Ollo, cellarmaster, are the current custodians of this historic estate. Since 2006 Ollo has been joined in the cellar by Etienne Louw, a qualified chemical engineer and winemaker, who has certainly added his dynamism to the mix.
As with all wine farms in the Durbanville Valley the cool conditions combined with the red soil and clay base, are ideal for producing top quality wines. The Altydgedacht team makes full use of the Durbanville microclimate to produce wines with distinctive varietal expression. This working farm, where trusted traditions and modern methods blend to create wines of quality with personality and depth, has released its first Cabernet Sauvignon in 14 years, as well as new vintages of its highly-acclaimed Sauvignon Blanc and Gewürztraminer.
Altydgedacht Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
This wine was produced from dry-land vineyards with an average age of 17 years and an average yield of 9 tons per hectare, and aged for 10 months in French oak.
Tasting notes and food pairing: This is a full-bodied red wine with an intense ruby red colour. Gorgeous blackcurrant aromas with a hint of spice follow through on the palate. This complex wine with juicy tannins and a velvety finish will mature well over the next 4 years. Perfect as a fireside tipple, this wine is also a great accompaniment to a ribeye steak, a juicy prime rib or a gourmet mushroom burger.
Retail price: The Altydgedacht Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is available at select retailers nationally, between R75 and R79 per bottle.
Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc 2016
The Durbanville Wine Valley Association, the marketing body for the twelve wineries in the area, has presented Sauvignon Blanc as a flag-bearer for this wine area, where the cool summer winds, hilly aspects and good soils combine to produce fine cool-climate Sauvignon Blancs. Altydgedacht was one of the first farms in the area to show the potential of this varietal, launching their maiden Sauvignon Blanc in 1988, and has continued to win prestigious awards for this varietal ever since.
This Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc 2016 was produced from seven separate blocks of dry-land vineyards with an average yield of 9 tons per hectare, each block contributing its own individual characteristics to the wine. One third of the harvest was obtained from 24 year-old vines, planted on southwest-facing slopes, whilst another third was sourced from 14-year old, high-elevation vineyards on an east-facing slope, and the balance derived from 10 year-old vines on a southern slope. In the cellar the wine was matured on the lees for three months prior to bottling, enhancing the wine’s complexity.
Tasting notes and food pairing: The wine has a straw-coloured hue. Due to differential picking, the grapes imparted a whole spectrum of aromas and flavours to the wine, ranging from green pepper and green figs to passion fruit and guava, with tropical fruit dominating on the palate. This inviting wine can be generously enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to fish, sushi, poultry and a range of vegetarian dishes.
Retail price: The Altydgedacht Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is available at select retailers nationally, between R75 and R79 per bottle.
Altydgedacht Gewürztraminer 2015
Reminiscent of the wines of Alsace, the cool-climate wine region in north-east France, the Altydgedacht Gewürztraminer 2015 is made in its usual signature dry style, a rarity in the Cape winelands.
This award-winning wine is produced from dry-land vineyards with an average age of 15 years. In the cellar the wine was matured on the lees for eleven months prior to bottling, enhancing the wine’s complexity.
Latest Award: Gold Medal at the 2016 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards
Tasting notes and food pairing: A brilliant straw colour wine with a slight green tint on the edge. The nose is perfumed, with good expression of spice, rose petals, Turkish delight and leechies. The palate follows through with floral flavours and a mélange of fruits, with good weight and a lingering finish. An elegant, complex wine with good ageing potential, it can be enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to spicy foods, curries and sushi.
Retail price: The Altydgedacht Gewürztraminer 2015 is available at select retailers nationally, at approximately R95 per bottle.
The balance of the Altydgedacht Estate range includes:
- Altydgedacht Barbera 2013: The original and one of the very few single-varietal Barberas made in South Africa. The history of Barbera on Altydgedacht dates back to 1928, when it was planted by John and Ollo’s grandfather, Ralph Parker. Approximate retail price: R125
- Altydgedacht Pinotage 2015: Regularly voted amongst South Africa’s Top 10 Pinotages in ABSA’s annual Pinotage Top 10 competition. Approximate retail price: R115
- Altydgedacht Muskarade 2016: (NEW) A semi-sweet blend of 45% Muscat d’Alexandrie, 35% Gewürztraminer and 20% Weisser Riesling. Approximate retail price: R66
The Parker Family Reserve Range includes:
- The Ollo 2014/2015: A wooded blend of Chardonnay, Semillon, Viognier, and Chenin Blanc. Approximate retail price: R140
- Weisser Riesling 2014/2015: A dry, tangy, single vineyard wine. Great enticing acidity with hints of marmalade and lemon in the background. Wonderful with spicy dishes. Approximate retail price: R95
- Méthode Cap Classique 2014: Made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes. The previous vintage, the Altydgedacht MCC 2013 not only took the Trophy for Best Blanc de Blancs at the 2015 Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge, but was also crowned the overall winner for 2015 having achieved the top score from all 114 entries. Approximate retail price: R175.
Attractions at Altydgedacht Estate
Step back in time when visiting this rustic, almost timeless estate, soaking up the charming ambience of a 300 year-old working farm. The Altydgedacht cellar is still housed in the original cellar building built around 1700, making it one of the oldest Cape cellars still in use. Old and modern winemaking equipment still work side by side in this old and traditional cellar with its sturdy thick walls. Made from clay and plaster, it was perfectly designed to keep things cool, with both the south-easter and north-wester providing a through-draft."It really does work", confirms winemaker Etienne Louw. "In winter you can almost get frostbite in here!"
Wine tasting and sales: The history of the farm and of the Parker family is captured in the unique very rustic tasting room housed in the original cellar, filled with memorabilia family portraits and photographs of previous owners, with the wines served from a venerable old work bench, and one of the walls exposing the original ‘koffieklip’ from which it was built.
Open Monday to Friday: 09h00 until 17h00 ∙ Saturday: 09h00 until 16h00 ∙ Sunday 11h00 until 15h00
Altydgedacht Estate ∙ Tygerberg Valley Road, Durbanville
+27.219761295 ∙ www.altydgedacht.co.za
Eat@Altydgedacht: Eat@Altydgedacht is a rustic day-time informal eatery where visitors can enjoy homemade dishes and Altydgedacht’s range of wines, seated outside under the trees in the dappled shade in summer, or inside the original 300 year-old barrel cellar decorated with fairy lights and the original wine vats in winter. A seasonal reasonably-priced menu is available: signature dishes include Chicken- and Springbok Pot Pie and their big sharing platters and salads are extremely popular. Eat@Altydgedacht also caters for small functions and dinners for 20 - 40 guests. Under new ownership, Neill Benningfield and Kyle Gray are enthusiastic about their new acquisition and have some exciting new ideas for the restaurant. One of the key attractions at the restaurant is the super play-park for children.
Open for breakfast and lunch Monday to Saturday - 09h00 to 15h30
Open for lunch only on Sunday - 11h00 to 15h30
Contact: Wynand Somers (GM)
+27.219757815 ∙ eat@altydgedacht.co.za ∙ www.eatataltydgedacht.co.za
Pampoenkraal (wedding and private function venue): Pampoenkraal is snugly tucked away beneath the ancient oak trees at Altydgedacht. It is a truly outdoor African experience, with an open air lapa for dining, where all the cooking is done on open fires.
Contact: Elzeth Austin ∙ +27.219132528 ∙ info@pampoenkraal.co.za ∙ www.pampoenkraal.co.za