The stunning view from the tasting room and cellar

The beautiful and tranquil Franschhoek Valley in the Cape Winelands is the heart of this outstanding wine region and home to many wineries and vineyards that produce world-renowned South African wine, including Haute Cabriere Winery.

This popular Wine Estate consists of two wine farms located at opposite ends of this magnificent valley. Their wine success is greatly attributed to their unique core belief that their wine is grown from a mix of sun, soil, vine and man (these meaningful words are prominently displayed on the pillar of a sundial located in the vineyards). The unique geography of the Franschhoek Valley, including the surrounding mountain chains and varying soil types, greatly contribute to the climate which makes this region superb for growing the finest grapes that go into Haute Cabriere’s amazing South African wine.

Some of the many features of the Haute Cabriere Wine Estate include the Haute Cabriere Restaurant, a helicopter landing pad, barrel maturation cellar and a unique wine tasting experience. The Haute Cabriere Restaurant provides a sophisticated, yet comfortable, dining experience with an interior design of colorful artwork and crisp, white linens. Delicious foods are prepared by Chef Ryan Shell with a wine recommendation accompanying every dish. The restaurant also has a beautiful terrace providing picturesque views of the valley, the wine estate and surrounding mountains. Haute Cabriere offers a number of venues for beautiful weddings and many different functions.

The Pierre Jourdan Wine Tasting Cellar, located in close proximity to the restaurant, offers its guests an opportunity to taste their exquisite selection of wines on a daily basis. Saturdays hold a special treat for guests when Achim and his son, treat guests to the ultimate in wine theatre. Visitors are whisked away on the intimate journey through Haute Cabrière’s history and wine philosophy. The use of a famed French cavalry sabre, to open bottle after bottle of Pierre Jourdan Cap Classique, adds the perfect amount of dramatic flair to this exceptional adventure.

The wines of Haute Cabriere Wine Estate are produced under the Pierre Jourdan and Haute Cabriere labels. Some of their finest South African wines under the Pierre Jourdan label consist of a classic champagne blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir such as Brut Sauvage and CUVEE Brut. Haute Cabriere is the only farm located in South Africa to produce Ratafia, a Chardonnay fortified with “potstill” brandy. Belle Rose is a 100% Pinot Noir with an elegant dry finish. The Haute Cabriere label offers Pinot Noir 2008 (100% Pinot Noir), Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2011 (an elegant blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir full of zesty fruit flavour) and Unwooded Pinor Noir 2011 with a brilliant red colour and ripe cranberry and cherry flavours. Haute Cabriere is truly an exceptional wine estate where outstanding South African wines are grown.

A variety of the Cabriere range can be found in Cape Ardor’s wine shop:

	Chardonnay Pinot Noir BlendA unique elegance and balance: the Chardonnay contributing elegance, and the Pinot Noir fruit and flavour intensity. This vintage is refined, with a firm acidity and an abundance of ripe fruit on the bouquet and palate.
	Pinot Noir Enticing, concentrated aromas of ripe cherries seduce the palate and linger long in the mouth. The overall impression is of even more elegance than the 2006 vintage, the unmistakable Haute Cabriere style
	Pierre Jourdan Brut Sauvage Pierre Jourdan Brut Sauvage is ‘oyster dry’. The bouquet is yeasty, the color is pale biscuit, and the finest of bubbles enliven the wine. Chardonnay contributes elegance, Pinot Noir, intensity and richness.
	Pierre Jourdan Brut Sparkling Pierre Jourdan Cuvée is crisp, complex and rewarding on the palate. The color a rich copper, typical for a “cuvée”, a blend. The “lime” character of the Chardonnay dominates but are well supported by the complexity of Pinot Noir.

Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose  Belle Rose has the faintest tinge of salmon pink, a lively presentation of Pinot Noir flavors, a pleasing fine mousse and it reveals an elegant dry finish.

The Ridgeback Tasting room and Restaurant overlooking the dam. (Image – wineandonly.com)

Located amongst the picturesque Northern Paarl (which means Pearl in Dutch), Ridgeback and Vansha Wines and Ridgeback Guest House are set on a 62 hectare boutique farm overlooking the Paarl Limietberg Mountains. Originally a large orchard, in 1997 the property was converted by Vansha Farming Ltd into a vineyard, complemented by an exclusive wine tasting centre, restaurant and guest house. The vineyard has since gained the reputation of a premier wine producer.

The trademark of the Ridgeback wines is the Rhodesian Ridgeback, a native dog with a strong affiliation to South African history. These noble animals were close companions of the early pioneers and used by nomadic tribes for lion hunting. The distinctive Ridgeback wines aim to reflect the spirit and uniqueness embodied by this South African symbol. Whilst the premium Ridgeback brand is the hallmark of this vineyard, they also host a entry level brand, Vansha, named after the owner’s daughter Vanessa and son Shaun.

The regional climate combined with the local terrain and granite derived soils provides the perfect growing conditions for a large variety of grapes. Red wines produced include Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Petit Verdot, Grenache and Mourvedre. White wine varieties include Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.

Ridgeback strives to produce premium quality wines. Its inaugural red wine produced in 2001, the Ridgeback Shiraz, won a 5 star award in the popular John Platter South African wine guide. Since then the vineyard has continued to produce award winning wines under the Ridgeback label. Ridgeback uses approximately 40 percent of the grapes it produces, with the remainder sole to other prominent wine makers.

A variety of  the Ridgeback range can be found in Cape Ardor’s wine shop:

	His Masters Choice- Veritas Awards – Bronze MedalConcentrated, layered wine with a combination of dark fruits, lavender, a touch of apricot and white peach with under-lying Rhone- like savoriness. The mid palate is supple and tannins add structure and minerality to support.
	Merlot – Platters Wine Guide – 4 Stars The award winning Merlot ‘05 boasts generous aromatics of ripe plums, mulberries and dark chocolate oak spice with hints of mint. A dense and concentrated mid palate evolves to a long, juicy finish. A fabulous wine to pair with mutton,braised lamb or pork casserole.
	Vansha White – Veritas Awards 2009 – Silver Medal A crisp blend of tropical Chenin Blanc with Sauvignon Blanc citrus and pear notes carrying to a lingering ripe peach finish from barrel fermented Viognier. Enjoy with light summer salads, seafood and poultry dishes.
	Ridgeback Viognier - Wine Enthusiast 2011 – 90 Points and ‘Editors Choice’ Ripe, perfumed aromas of white peach, orange blossoms and dried apricots evolve to a fresh yet rich mid-palate and long citrus finish.

The Groot Drakenstein mountains, a stunning backdrop for Solms-Delta Winery

The 320-year-old Solms-Delta Wine Estate, located in the heart of the Western Cape Province, is a unique Franschhoek wine farm dedicated to preserving its rich heritage and giving back to South African communities.

View the Solms Delta wines

This veritable wine farm in the Franschhoek Valley, bordered by the picturesque Groot Drakenstein Mountains, has seen difficult and tumultuous times in its past. The farm was originally established by slave labor and many of their descendants still live there.  The historic events and what has happened on the estate throughout the years has played a major role in its revitalization process. Professor Mark Solms, a highly regarded neuroscientist, returned to his South African roots and bought the farm in 2001. He then began the process of revitalizing the historic wine estate.

A museum was established and chronicles the history of the land and events that have taken place so that visitors will have a true understanding of Solms-Delta’s roots.

The mission of Solms-Delta is to bring about positive change that will have a ripple effect.  Making a significant contribution to the redevelopment of South Africa and taking care of the people of South Africa is of the utmost importance.  With the rebirth of the Solms-Delta wine farm, a trust was established in 2007 which has positively affected the lives of the people who live there.  (The social fabric of most South African farms involves working farms operated by the people who live on the land.)

The trust has been intended to address and fix economic and social inequalities of the underprivileged farm residents.  It supports a wide range of social, educational, and cultural projects as well as sports and recreation. Education for the next generation is largely focused on engaging farm children in learning and properly preparing the children for school. The Cape Winelands Social Inclusion Award was bestowed upon the Solms-Delta wine farm for “excellent and innovative” strides taken in enhancing the social, cultural and economic well being of the farm workers.

Music has also become a huge part of daily life at Solms-Delta.  Joyous music has played a major role in changing the lives of people on the farm. Watch this incredible video from ISAW and notice how music and opportunity has changed so many of these workers lives.

Solms Delta and The Soetstemme Choir from ISAW TV on Vimeo.

The Solms-Delta wine estate prides itself on its exquisite surroundings, a unique restaurant and formal culinary garden, and the incredible art and science of their winemaking process.  Visitors can wander the estate enjoying the peaceful and beautiful surroundings.  Private picnics along the lush banks of the Dwars River are also available September to April, arranged through the Fyndraai Restaurant.  Wine-tasting is also available daily in the Museum van de Caab or under the beautiful mature oaks outside.

Hilko Hegewisch is the Winemaker at Solms-Delta and loves a challenge as much as he loves wine.  He studied winemaking at Elsenburg College and spent 18 years as a Winemaker in the Cape before starting his own company.  His adventurous and innovative spirit has made him an ideal choice as Winemaker at Solms-Delta.

The wines of Solms-Delta are handcrafted with integrity and distinction.  There are two ranges of wines, Solms-Astor and Solms-Delta.  The ancient greek practice of desiccation of the grapes (vine clamped and dried for intensity and a distinct style) is used.

Solms-Astor range consists of three traditional yet unusual Cape blends which are featured in our store:

- Langarm (a red blend)

- Vastrap (a white blend)

- Cape Jazz Shiraz (light, fruity and refreshing; low in alcohol)

Part of The Solms-Delta wine range can be found in Cape Ardor’s online store.

-Africana – which is  produced entirely from desiccated grapes,

-Hiervandaan (red blend)-

-Amalie (dry white blend)

These were all launched under the label, Wijn de Caab, in 2005.

The beautiful Graham Beck Vineyard

Graham Beck, founder of the Graham Beck Winery South Africa and patriarch of one of the most beloved wine-producing families in South Africa, was a remarkable individual with a passion for life.  Graham Beck was born in Cape Town and remained deeply rooted in Africa throughout his life constantly demonstrating his commitment and generosity to the South African community.

In 1983 Graham Beck purchased Madeba, a wine farm situated just outside of Robertson which has grown into a world-class wine estate highly regarded for producing some of the best South African sparkling wine.  As a result of the success of the Robertson estate, the second Graham Beck Winery was established in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley.  Over the years, Graham’s ambition, passion and extraordinary work ethic has grown into an extremely successful world-class enterprise with vineyards located on four different farms with very diverse climatic conditions.  Beck vineyards are located at the Robertson and Franschhoek estates with two others located in the Firgrove area of the Stellenbosch region.

Graham Beck Wine Estate – Robertson

Located in a dry, warm climate in the Breede River Valley along the Little Karoo region, the flourishing vineyards are planted in limestone rich soil which is perfectly suited for producing white varietals with the largest percentage of vines planted under Chardonnay.  The very unique wine cellar is divided into three different cellars.  The first cellar is exclusively for production of Beck’s South African sparkling wine.  It is also for barrel maturation and holds the tasting facilities.  After harvest the grapes are sent to Cellar 2 which holds the fermentation process and maturation tanks.  The entire bottling and storage process happens in Cellar 3.  The Robertson estate offers very warm and welcoming wine tasting facilities that are very stylish in design with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.  A perfect atmosphere to taste and savor the finest Chardonnay or Cap Classiques produced by the Beck family.

Irene Waller is the Winemaker at the Robertson estate and did not even come to realize her passion for winemaking until after she completed her studies at the University of Cape Town.  She enrolled in the Cape Wine Academy and continued her studies at Stellenbosch University where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Oenology.  She joined the Graham Beck wine family in 2005 and has been on an exciting winemaking journey ever since.

Graham Beck Wine Estate – Franschhoek

Located in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley, seasonal climate conditions such as summers with sunny days and cool nights and winters that are wet with cold temperatures provide for ideal growing conditions for the vineyards situated on a steep terrain with soils laden with sandstone and granite.

The Franschhoek Cellar and Wine tasting facilities are beautifully designed and incorporate contemporary design with old world atmosphere and charm.  With picturesque views of the surrounding areas, this distinguished wine estate offers a state-of-the-art wine tasting room with a welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable staff.  The tranquil and serene grounds and impeccably landscaped gardens with displays of unique sculptures all give the estate charm and personality.

At the Franschhoek estate, Erika Obermeyer is living her dream as the Winemaker.  Erika grew up on a sheep farm in Karoo and loved the simple pleasures of growing up on a farm.  While studying medicine at Stellenbosch University she switched directions and went into wine biotechnology.  She came to realize her passion was really for a hands-on experience in the winemaking industry and thus began her journey as a Winemaker.  She joined the Graham Beck team in 2005 and won woman winemaker of the year!

The South African sparkling wines of Graham Beck include white, red, rose, dessert wines and Cap Classiques.  Every Graham Beck wine is produced by a passionate team of individuals that are the heart and soul of the Graham Beck Wineries.

The Beck wine family was deeply saddened by Graham’s passing in 2010 but remain committed to honoring his memory and spirit by continuing his legacy of producing the finest wines of South Africa.

Check out our New Years Offer on Sparkling Wine

Seeing as the holidays are just around the corner (yippee!) we want to share a few of our favorite wine gifts with you. Just scroll down to view our Gift List! (If you would like to have your purchase shipped in time for Christmas, please make sure your order is in by Dec 15th.) We wish you all a warm, happy holidays with your family and loved ones.

‘Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.’

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	Just use Promocode: TENOFF to enjoy a 10% discount on anything, even non-wine products!
	OR Shop 6 or more bottles of ANY wine and instantly receive 50% off ground shipping! Use Promocode: SHIPNOW to activate your coupon!
	Give a Gift Certificate for $25 or more
	Explore the great holiday gift packs and ideas for giving this Christmas. Check out our NEW South African Wine Mixed 6 Pack  of fantastic wines from different regions of the Western Cape.
	Can’t decide what to give? Out of time? 1.  Provide your budget and recipients 2.We will design you  a customized gift or you can pick from our gift packs in our store. 3. Forget about it.! It’s in our hands…
	Wine clubs are the perfect way to keep giving!  Check out our Baobab Wine Club and our Protea Cape Reserve Wine Club. We hand-select unique boutique wines from our sources. Every wine shipped to you has full tasting notes and recipe cards to pair with your collection.

 The Muratie Cellar and house

Located in historic and exotic South Africa at the foot of the Simonsberg Mountains, Muratie Winery is a destination with a history as rich as the fine wines it boasts. Muratie is a magnificent example of a truly original and unique family winery. With grape vines stretching across 45 hectares, or 113 miles, Muratie is still churning out delicious gourmet wines, just as it did when it all started in 1699.

See Cape Ardor’s Muratie Collection

Entering the cellar

Muratie Winery began when Laurens Campher, a German soldier with the Dutch East India Company, decided to build a farm where he could one day settle down to grow more than grapes; he wanted to grow a family. This dream would not prove easy; Laurens was in love with a beautiful slave girl named Ansela Van de Caab, a love that seemed taboo, and utterly impossible. It took him fourteen years to build Muratie, but Laurens was determined to create the perfect home where his love, Ansela, and their three children would one day live their lives free of slavery. In a fairy tale ending Laurens and Ansela’s dream came true in 1699 when she and her children were freed of slavery, and Muratie Winery was born. Today one of Muratie’s signature wines is named for the star-crossed dreamer, Ansela Van de Caab. View more of their wines in our store.

The Old Cellar Charm

Passing down through many skilled and attentive owners over the years, Muratie Winery still holds today the elegant charm that it held in its romantic beginnings. With sprawling lands, and an elegant guest house, Muratie welcomes travelers from all over the world, to relax and tour the farm that made history as part of South Africa’s wine culture. Guests are encouraged to taste all of Muratie’s indulgent wines, to tour the vineyards, to dine in the elegant old farm kitchen and to rest their heads under a roof where true love overcame so much adversity. A place for wine lovers, adventurers and dreamers alike, Muratie Winery is truly a trip back in time.

 Amber, the mistress of one of Muratie’s previous owners, GP Canitz – a well known South African artist

The Beautiful Vrede en Lust Wine Estate

Franschhoek, (the picturesque village just 45 minutes from Cape Town) is home to the Vrede en Lust Winery, a family owned and managed wine estate.

Vrede en Lust has a 300 year old history.  It was first established by Jacques de Savoye in 1688 as a wine farm and even centuries ago it was described as “the most beautiful place”.

Tasting Room View

Vrede en Lust is a family oriented wine farm and the families all contribute in some way to the richness found in this wine estate. The winery welcomes its guests with free wine tasting in a comfortable, serene setting and also offers wine tours where guests can experience the wine making process and come in close contact with the grapes.

The winemaker at the lovely Vrede en Lust wine estate is Susan Erasmus, winner of the 2007 Landbou Woman Winemaker of the Year award.  Susan’s passion is wine and  it is evident in the award winning range of wines produced at Vrede en Lust.  Susan Erasmus was born in Cape Town and raised in the Free State, a province of South Africa.  She is a graduate of the University of Stellenbosch in Viticulture and Oenology and also spent time abroad in France working in the wine industry.  Susan returned to the winelands in 2000 and has worked in collaboration with the owners, Dana and Etienne Buyers, to renew the Vrede en Lust winery and make it the flourishing success it is today.

The winemaking philosophy at Vrede en Lust is to produce the highest quality handcrafted wines that reflect their terroir with minimal intervention in the cellar.  The wines are produced in New World Style, some classical and some of a more modern taste.  The vineyards are planted where they are best suited to their respective soils.  White grapes come from the cool climate Elgin region and red grapes come from the warmer Simonsberg-Paarl vineyards.

View from the Guesthouse

The Vrede en Lust Wine Estate with its peaceful and welcoming atmosphere has much to offer in addition to its stellar winery and vineyards. Cotage Fromage is a restaurant which serves a light, sophisticated breakfast or lunch with live music on Sunday afternoons. There is a deli where you can find 60 different cheeses and a variety of meats and freshly baked breads.  The Manor House and Jonkmanshuis offers elegant accommodations to guests of Vrede en Lust boasting old world charm in a modern, bright airy setting.  Lavish weddings are also held at Vrede en Lust with its breathtaking scenery as the backdrop.

Jonkmanshuis Guesthouse

We are lucky to have a wide range of Vrede en Lust wine in our store. For any inquiries, mail us at info@cape-ardor.com

The climate and growing conditions are ideal for growing grapes and the natural water retention in the vineyards is an added bonus.

The soils in this area are the absolute best that can be found in the region and perfect for growing grapes and producing some of the finest South African wine available.

Doolhof Wine Estate hand picks flavorful grapes from their premier vineyards and uses a meticulous winemaking process to produce their unique collection of wines.  Two of the Doolhof wines, the 2009 Signatures of Doolhof Malbec and the 2009 Signatures of Doolhof Petit Verdot, have been awarded national winners at the 2011 Sixth Annual Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards.

Cape Ardor’s Doolhof Wine Collection consists of:

The Legends of the Labyrinth:

- Dark Lady 2010: A deep plum and cherry wine overlaid by mocha and chocolate; 100% Pinotage.

- Lady in Red 2008:  A Garnet red Bordeaux blend.

- The Minotaur 2007:  A well balanced, full-bodied, masterly blended red wine.

The Signatures of Doolhof:

- Malbec 2009:  A well-integrated complex rich wine with a variety of flavors on the nose.

The Cape Series:

- Cape Loerie 2009:  Green citrus and gooseberry dominate the nose.

- Cape Roan 2007:  A deep red wine, smoky and spicy on the nose, coupled with dark fruit.

The elegant blue and white Doolhof Tasting Room located in the “old wagon house” provides the perfect atmosphere for guests to taste the award winning Doolhof wines.  An adjoining terrace with fountains and a lush tranquil garden is a relaxing venue for light lunches, wine tasting and a quiet stroll through the gardens.  Picnics, a River Walk and a hiking trail are also unique features of the Doolhof Wine Estate.

Cape Ardor is currently running a Thanksgiving offer for Doolhof wines.  They are the perfect pairing wines for the annual gastronomic affair! Alternatively find these magical wines in our store.

For many years, Cathy’s wine has been ‘homeless’, often sneaked into the corner of whichever winery is lucky enough to be employing her at the time. Her tiny garagiste operation has now expanded enough to allow her to make a permanent base in Elgin, but it has been a long journey to reach this goal and she has travelled through many different grapes and terroirs before arriving at the top of Sir Lowry’s Pass.

This was the focus of much of last week’s winetasting, following Cathy as she explored some of the different regions in her search for her perfect Pinot. Her first grapes came from traditionally-successful warmer climes in Stellenbosch from vineyards belonging to Muratie and Bellevue. Here, she made “lovely red wines, but not typical Pinot Noirs” and felt the clones were wrong for her ideal style. Leaving Stellenbosch, she tried fruit from Darling, buying her grapes from Groote Post. Here she found plenty of minerality in the wine, but it lacked acidity, quickly disappearing in the bottle.

2005 was the first year she used fruit from Elgin. Here, the cool night temperatures led to far longer hang-times for the grapes, leaving her with lower alcohols, good acidity and generally better wines all round. Although she has experimented with some grapes from Herold and Benguela Cove, the main focus of her wine since then has been on the different soils and clones available in Elgin “We have about 14 different types here, maybe even more, and because I make wine on a small scale, I am able to keep every single site and clone separately in barrels. The aim is to create a history for each site so that we can better understand why it produces the flavours it does.”

When Cathy talks about blending different barrels, she immediately heads off into the world of classical music “the combination of clone 115 on sandy soils is always Mozart to me!” Describing her job as the conductor of an orchestra may seem a little hackneyed, but this is clearly how Cathy ‘sees’ her wines – “they make music in my mind” and her job as winemaker is to bring them all together in one triumphant symphony. Her hands-on approach and minute attention to detail means that she lives and breathes her wines from vine through to bottle, and her absorption and dedication was clear as she talked us through the different vintages over lunch.

Pinot noir is notoriously tricky and Cathy admits to plenty of heartbreak over the last fourteen years. She doesn’t claim hers is the best Pinot in the country and has only good things to say about her fellow-winemakers, particularly the ‘big-names’ of Walker Bay – “one shouldn’t be dismissive of other styles or terroir – there’s no right or wrong, it’s just different.” The point is that she wants to make the best Pinot according to her own lights. And from the reception of the wines at last week’s lunch, I’d say she should carry right on setting her own standard. The rest of the Pinot-world will just have to play catch-up.

These scores conclusively prove the often-held impression that Chardonnay and other white wines from the New World cannot age well to be a fallacy.

De Wets says that by scoring 90 points the Bateleur and The Site showed just how exceptional the 2009 vintage was.

“These wines have actually just been released and have yet to come close to reaching their full potential,” says De Wet. “The near-perfect 2009 vintage will ensure that both these wines develop to extraordinary heights – watch this vintage a few years down the line!”