Marelise Niemann is a champion of Grenache. Her label, Momento, began officially in 2013, when she was still working at Beaumont in the Bot River region of South Africa. Beaumont…
Crystallum: some of South Africa’s most compelling Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Crystallum is the wine label of Peter-Allan Finlayson (above), who set up in partnership with his brother (Andrew, a Hermanus-based architect) and his Dad (Peter, who was the first winemaker…
Making wine at Gabrielskloof: the final instalment
This is the final instalment of my series of reports from 10 days of vintage experience at Gabrielskloof, in Bot River, South Africa. I really enjoyed my time here, came…
The wines of Gabrielskloof, Bot River, South Africa
Gabrielskloof, where I’ve spent the last 10 days working vintage, is a winery on the up. It’s owned by Bernhard Heyns. In his previous life, Bernhard’s family owned a brick-manufacturing…
Harvest at Gabrielskloof: managing red wine ferments
I’ve been enjoying working with some of the red wine fermentations this week. Wines are fermented here in two different formats. First, there are the small poly bins which take…
Harvest at Gabrielskloof: collecting grapes
The producers working in the Gabrielskloof cellar in Botriver – Peter-Allan Finlayson, Marelise Niemann and John Seccombe – all buy grapes from growers spread across the various Cape wine regions….
Harvest at Gabrielskloof, pressing Grenache Gris and barrel work
With four different producers working in the same cellar space, there’s always plenty going on at Gabrielskloof, especially because I’m here right in the peak period of harvest. Here are…
Harvest at Gabrielskloof: vineyard sampling
One of the most critical decisions at harvest time is when to pick the grapes. Pick too soon or too late and your wine won’t reflect its vineyard origins: you…
Some lovely South African whites: Crystallum, Gabrielskloof, Momento, Thorne and Daughters
My first night in South Africa began well. I’m staying here 11 days, working vintage in the cellar at Gabrielskloof, a space shared by four of South Africa’s most interesting…