"History shows us that you need to be diverse to survive. You need to be able to adapt and change while still paying homage to your roots. That's what I have come to love about Groot Phesantekraal. Everybody loves a story"
07/2021
The familiar humdrum of the cellar fills my ears as the sound of boxes shifting and bottles being packed for the final stretch of the 2021 vintage fills the air.
I sit sipping on a glass of Marizanne Sauvignon Blanc as Winemaker Richard and Manager Michael passionately explain the aging capabilities of the wine.
"Most winemakers want to drink a Sauvignon Blanc in the year it was produced. Our estate wine is made in that style because that is our market. Its about finding a balance."
When looking at Durbanville as a wine producing region, Sauvignon Blanc seems to be portrayed as the poster child. The typical style is crisp, fresh with typical citrus and herbaceous notes. At Groot Phesantekraal, the scenario is no different, that is until you start exploring the entire range.
As a young winemaker entering a new cellar, you have to set the goal of making your mark on the brand. Winemaker Richard Schroeder did just that with the release of Marizanne Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, a complex and well-layered wine with buoyant ageing capabilities.
"It is important to really capture the essence of your terroir and your brand"
Anna De Koning Chenin Blanc is a flagship white wine named after the beautiful Anna De Koning, daughter of a freed slave who became the wife of the farm’s first owner Olof Bergh in 1676.
The elegance and beauty in which this wine carries itself translates from history to bottle. This bush vine Chenin Blanc was planted in 1986. Low rainfall contributed to concentrated grapes and low yield. 2020 is the the last vintage ever produced from this block and I have had the privilege of snagging a bottle for safe keeping.
"Durbanville doesn't have the tourism levels of Constantia and Franschoek. We have all been coming together to get the Durbanville Wine Valley active again through collaborations and dinners."
The tasting at FEiNS Fine Foods Deli brought a bit of Groot Phesantekraal to the flickering city.
It was the sort of event that everyday consumers got to interact with the winemaker in a more relaxed and social setting.
"It is a rare occurrence, sitting and chatting with the winemaker about the process. The care he shows for his brand makes me want to go and check the entire farm out."
- Words of a guest at the tasting -
These interactive, intimate and less formally-structured tastings have been the driving force of getting people to come out of their Covid-Anxiety bubbles and visiting farms.
One thing I can say about the team at Groot Phesantekraal, is that they are genuinely passionate about the upliftment and restoration of not just their own farm and brand, but that of the entire Valley. If you have not been to this beautiful and tranquil farm yet, then make sure to add it to your next weekend wind-down session. https://grootphesantekraal.co.za/
A special thank you to the hospitable team at Groot Phesantekraal:
Michael Smith, Managing Director
Richard Schroeder, Head Winemaker & Cellar Master
Daniela Smith, General Manager
TASTING NOTES AND ADDITIONAL WINE INFORMATION
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