View from De Grendel
The Graaffs
In the early 1970s when I had just returned from the UK and cookery school, I cooked a meal at De Grendel for that political icon, Leader of the Opposition, Sir de Villiers and Lady Graaff for an important political dinner. It was all very formal and black tie. The great love of Sir Div’s life was his prize winning dairy herd – De Grendel Wines was a dream to be fulfilled in the future and in the hands of his son, the current owner, Sir David.
Today things are more relaxed at the beautiful manor house of De Grendel which is one of Cape Town’s oldest farms and sits majestically elevated on the slopes of the Tygerberg surrounded by its vineyards on high sea facing slopes and has arguably one of the best wineland views of Table Mountain. Those of us invited to a traditional Sunday Roast lunch now go into the kitchen to help ourselves and the roast leg of lamb with mint sauce – mint from the garden – is accompanied by the estate’s Rubaiyat or Pinot Noir.
These slopes, which face the setting sun, offer chill breezes off the fresh Atlantic Ocean, only 7 kilometers away, which cool the climate
in De Grendel Vineyards allowing for the production of top quality grapes for the estate’s great wines.
Charles Hopkins is the inaugural winemaker and one of South Africa’s most highly regarded winemakers both in the country and abroad and a member of the 36-member Cape Winemakers Guild.
Charles Hopkins
Says Charles “When I got here I had some serious plans for De Grendel. It’s been a challenge and an adventure and I love both, so I’ve been having a lot of fun working with this efficient and well-trained team and we’ve exceeded the goals we set out to achieve which makes it all the more rewarding. Quality is not a goal, it’s a journey.” He adds that De Grendel has good soil and combined with all the other factors, poses exciting opportunities and cites that it is a ‘huge responsibility” working with the Graaff family and its current incumbent Sir David Graaff. Our goal is to produce some of the best wines in the country from the Durbanville area and I feel we have achieved this.”
Also at De Grendel from the first vintage is Elzette du Preez whose true passion is winemaking. Qualified at Elsenburg Agricultural College, Stellenbosch, Elzette has harvested in California, toured the major French wine regions, as well as Marlborough, New Zealand, focusing specifically on Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.
- De Grendel Wines
The estate’s medal and trophy cabinet fairly rattles with awards, both local and international. The estate produces a stonker of a Sauvignon Blanc and a selected vineyard Sauvignon called Koetshuis. The Pinot Gris, recently released is one of my favourite from the Cape winelands. The Winifred is a delicious blended wine. There is a double brace of reds, with a fabulous Bordeaux blend called Rubaiyat, a Shiraz, a Merlot and a subtle smooth Pinot Noir. With Summer coming on, the Rosé will be the drink de rigueur.
De Grendel has a relationship with Habits Fashion Boutique, well known Cape Town fashion guru Jenny le Roux’s emporium. Great wine and fabulous fashion are natural partners. Click here for more info http://www.habits.co.za
Nguni Cattle
The De Grendel tasting room is open for tastings and sales every day exceptChristmas and New Years day. Opening times, Monday to Friday 09h00 to 17h00 and Saturdays and Sundays from 10h00 to 16h00. Do look out for the beautiful Nguni Cattle and the enchanting goats on your way up to the tasting room. Also don’t miss the antique cannons!
Click here for more information about De Grendel Wines.
Winegrowing area: Durbanville
Owner: Sir David Graaff
Winemaker: Charles Hopkins with Elzette du Preez
M14, near Panorama
P.O. Box 15282 Panorama 7506
Western Cape, South Africa
Telephone +27 21 558 6280, fax +27 21 558 7083
Email: info@degrendel.co.za Web: www.degrendel.co.za
