This could be Heaven: Part 2

While at Kronendal Farm I had the chance to sample a few of the other wines produced by some of the members of the Durbanville Boutique Wine Association. As most of the producers are small garagiste type producers it makes sense to have the chance to taste these wines at one venue. Please be sure to phone Magdeleen of Kronendal and let her know what wines you are interested in and she will make the necessary arrangements.

From the fairly long line up of wines I chose the following: Klein Roseboom Sauvignon Blanc 08, Da Vallei the full range, Hermit on the Hill Pinot Noir and Syrah, Galleon Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The stand out wines for me were the Klein Roseboom Sauvignon Blanc, the Pinot Noir and the Galleon Chardonnay. Each of these wines are made in small quantities and are difficult to come by but worth the effort.

On Friday 5th September the Durbanville Boutique Wines Association will be holding its annual tasting event at Eureka Farm in Durbanville. This is an event not to be missed, and one that I will be attending. Have a look at their web site fore details: http://www.durbanvilleboutiquewine.co.za/

With spring just around the corner wine festivals are a plenty. Be sure not to miss the McGregor Wine Festival. This must be the smallest wine festival on the calender but certainly one of the best. Very intimate and sociable. Only 12 producers from the region, meaning you don't have to rush and you can chat, talk, taste, sip and eat your way at your own leisurely pace. Look out for the wines of John Hargreaves, his tiny label, Rusty Red is a real treat. John makes his wine in the heart of the village from his garage in true garagiste fashion.

This could be Heaven.

My usual Saturday sojourn to the Winelands took me to Durbanville boutique winery Kronendal Farm, the home of Westerdale Wines. What I love about the Durbanville valley is its close proximity to the Northern suburbs, yet you still feel like you are far from the maddening civilization and commercial trappings of places like Tyger Valley. Kronendal Farm can be found at the end of Westerdale road , the well used gravel road passes numerous idyllic properties, the scene is made complete with postcard like paddocks and views of distant mountains.

Kronendal Farm is a tiny farm of 2 hectares, just .6 hectares under vine, and is a member of the Durbanville Boutique Wine Association. This is an association of 13 passionate winemakers who have bandied together to promote their tiny brands. By prior arrangement these wines can be tasted and purchased at Kronendal Farm were we were warmly welcomed by the lively and energetic winemaker Magdaleen Kroon, that's her pouring the wines. She is the antithesis of your typical farmer: burly, towering, colossal she is not, rather athletic, energetic, and dynamic. She and her husband Piet bought the farm some 10 years ago with the intention of establishing a nursery come landscaping business, only to discover that a lack of water made their dream impossible. The horticultural industries loss is the wine industries gain. Magdaleen decided to go the Rhone Blend route and planted her small vineyard with Shiraz, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo and Viognier. As I sat on her beautiful wooden deck and looked across the valley while sampling her fine wine I wondered if life could get any better...Mirari, Latin for to wonder at, is an elegant and well balanced wine, no baked fruit or over ripe flavours, but rather very subtle and restrained. Minute quantities are made of this very limited wine, with each bottle personally hand numbered her love, passion and hard work are clearly evident. Garagiste wines can often be called rustic, but not this wine. With Magdaleen peronally doing all wine tastings, you get that personal touch that bigger farms just cant match, it's a rare pleasure to meet the personality behind a wine, to ask questions and understand what the winemaker was hoping to achieve. A wine tasting at Kronendal Farm is more than just a tasting, it is truly a memorable experience and one that I encourage you to make.

Magdaleen: 0824990198

garagiste: small scale winemaker

http://www.durbanvilleboutiquewine.co.za