Ostensibly a trek, the Breedekloof Valley is actually as far from Cape Town as Franschhoek is. As the light pulls you out of the Huguenot Tunnel, a Tolkien-esque scene awaits: with the towering rock faces of the Worcester Fault rising up on each side. This formation has crumbled imperceptibly through the ages giving the Breedekloof its mix of weathered sandstone, alluvial and granite soils. The Breede River is its ancient thoroughfare, depositing this mix across the valley floor. The mountains too create distinct climatic conditions; circling the valley they trap in the cool night air, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly, concentrating flavour and retaining acidity.
The majority of the estates are family-owned. Some have been farming here for up to eight generations. Many of the winemakers have grown up together. They have further banded together to form Breedekloof Makers, a collaborative that showcases boutique productions of chenin blanc, termed “the expected”, as well as wines made from unusual cultivars, or “the unexpected”.
This is real farming country, and with it warm hospitality is delivered through pastoral tasting rooms, farm-style eateries and unique accommodation offerings with a lean towards agrotourism. Here are 14 gems to explore.
Opstal Estate
“I make single vineyard wines in a minimalistic way to best portray the vintage as the only variable year after year,” shares Attie Louw. A seventh generation winemaker, his family’s farm Opstal dates back to 1847. Once known for bulk production, Attie is largely credited with putting the region on the fine wine map with the award-winning Carl Everson chenin blanc. He also founded the Breedekloof Makers in 2015. Travel to his lofty estate to drink in panoramic views of the valley and his accomplished wines. With those same stunning views Opstal Eat delivers classic country fare. The estate also offers self-catering cottages as well as a wedding and function venue.
Belle Rebelle Winery
Winemaker with her own-name label, Mariëtte Stofberg-Coetzee sources grapes from her ancestral family farm, Stofberg Family Vineyards. Her Belle Rebelle boutique wine brand focuses on expressing the different pockets of soils found there. Alongside still wines, Mariëtte’s particular speciality is sparkling wine, and she’s won a few awards to prove it. She is also currently experimenting with the charmat method and has made the Cape’s answer to Prosecco, ‘CapeSecco’. Adjacent to the tasting room you’ll find a gin distillery, and the Ou Stokery restaurant serving up hearty country fare.
Du Toitskloof Wines
“Wine is like magic. You need to create something that will excite your audience and leave them wanting more,” says winemaker Willie Stofberg. Willie has been at the helm here for many years, and part of the job is manning Quest, the premium label focusing on traditional French blends. Get to know the wines (and the people of the Breedekloof) at Du Toitskloof’s brand-new tasting venue. A hub of activity, it includes art exhibitions, bottomless mimosas on weekends as well as pop-up wine bars that feature the valley’s wines. In-between tastings grab a bite to eat at Ou Meul Bakery. Like many of the other Breedekloof estates, Du Toitskloof has also taken advantage of its spectacular surroundings with scenic trails for running and mountain-biking.
Daschbosch
“I make elegant, artisanal wines from salvaged old vines and classic heritage wines from the beautiful fruit of our Daschbosch vineyards,” sums up winemaker WS Visagie. Daschbosch is a boutique label under Breedekloof winery uniWines, where the focus is on terroir-specific wines. The farm itself was granted in 1754, and the contemporary ethos is a respect for tradition by making wines from protected old vines within the vineyard portfolio. The winery hosts regular pop-up tasting events, so follow its social media for more information.
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