The latest Shiraz vintage from De Grendel is literally a “tale of three blocks”, explains cellarmaster Charles Hopkins. This is because the grapes sourced for the 2016 Shiraz were sourced from a selection of established blocks from which Charles has been buying grapes from for 14 years – one in Paarl and the other two from a vineyard in the Somerset West region.

As we do each season, we have introduced a string of new delicious dishes to the menu of De Grendel Restaurant. Our new sous chef, Conrad van den Heever, who joins our head chef, Ian Bergh, has brought innovative ideas and passion with him, contributing to the exciting things going on in our kitchen right now.

If you want the best seat in Africa to enjoy fine dining with a view, De Grendel Restaurant is the place to book. This is according to the World Luxury Restaurant Awards 2017, which have announced that De Grendel Restaurant is the Continent Winner of the Luxury Scenic Setting Award. The restaurant was also the Regional Winner of the Fine Dining Cuisine Category.

“Africa is a beautiful continent so it is a true honour to be acknowledged as having the finest view for diners. The Cape Winelands is also home to some of the world’s best restaurants, so the competition is stiff. To win the Fine Dining Cuisine Award is extremely exciting,’ says Sir De Villiers Graaff. 

“While we are famous for our breathtaking view of Table Mountain from the restaurant, diners have also given us wonderful feedback on our refurbished restaurant, which underwent a makeover last year, and on some of our new dishes on the menu,” says Sir De Villiers. De Grendel Restaurant’s menu is regularly refreshed and updated and is designed to complement the fine De Grendel wines available.

“Over 100,000 votes were cast this year; 100,000 times the public voiced their opinion on who of the 1,000 entrants are deserving of these accolades. The awards honour the staff of fine establishments, who through their immeasurable service delivery have brought success to the proud brands of which they are a part,” says Marna Lourens, Executive Manager for the World Luxury Spa Awards.

To make a booking at the De Grendel Restaurant phone 021 558 7035 or send an email to restaurant@degrendel.co.za - for more information about the De Grendel Restaurant click here.

Great news! We’re warming up your winter with a delicious lunch special at De Grendel Restaurant.

The Winter lunch Special will run from Tuesdays to Thursdays. Here’s how it works: order two courses from the starred items on the menu for R280 (normally R350), or opt for three courses at R300 (normally R385)

To make a booking please call us on 021 558 7035 or send us an email at restaurant@degrendel.co.za.

*Winter lunch special is available until mid August 2017. Menu is subject to change without notice. T&Cs apply.

About De Grendel Restaurant
De Grendel Restaurant rests on a ridge overlooking Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain on the majestic De Grendel estate in the Durbanville Wine Valley. The Graaff family’s property is steeped in heritage and renowned for its award-winning wines. Their passion for winemaking extends to the philosophy they employ at the estate’s restaurant: the use of in-season and locally sourced fresh produce, and a menu that is updated regularly, reflecting the unique culinary heritage of the Cape and created with complementary De Grendel wines in mind. De Grendel’s award-winning wines at cellar door prices at De Grendel Restaurant.

For more information about De Grendel Restaurant click here.

We’re so grateful to be receiving consistent rainfall at last in the Durbanville Wine Valley, but the warnings are out for a hotter & drier summer than ever ahead. While at De Grendel we water our vines using reclaimed grey water supplied by the City of Cape Town, we decided we needed to explore other options to service the needs of our estate, including our blueberry crop.

OFFER EXTENDED - 5 MORE BOXES AVAILABLE ONLINE

An exclusive selection of some of our best Shirazes from over the years... a wine lover's dream. Make this dream come true when you snap up our De Grendel Shiraz Vinothèque Collection!

The authentic wooden wine box contains six bottles of De Grendel Shiraz, a bottle of each: 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2 bottles of our current 2015 vintage.

We only have 5 boxes available online so you'll need to act fast! To buy this product, log in to your account here and go to the shop section of our website. Already logged in? Click buy now below:

BUY NOW

Not a De Grendel Loyalty Club member yet? Click here to find out more.

We only have 5 of these collection boxes available online, 5 each in our Tasting Room and Restaurant as well as 15 boxes through our Loyalty Club manager, Anzelle Pienaar (club@degrendel.co.za).

“A superior customer experience”. This is the sentiment behind the 2017 Certificate of Excellence award De Grendel received from TripAdvisor, which follows on from the same award in 2016.  This achievement celebrates businesses, which have consistently achieved glowing traveler reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year. The restaurant is located at De Grendel, a Durbanville wine estate with a rich heritage and reputation for fine wine.

“De Grendel Restaurant has received many accolades in the past, but a vote of confidence from our customers is the ultimate compliment,” says Sir De Villiers Graaff, 4th baronet. De Grendel Restaurant is a favourite for the following reasons:

• Our menu is based on classic, locally sourced ingredients. Head Chef Ian Bergh changes the menu regularly to ensure the fare we use is in season. You will also find produce grown a stone’s throw away on the estate, such as our beautiful blueberries.
• De Grendel Restaurant has one of the best views of Table Mountain you will ever see. Our restaurant is designed to maximise the stunning views of the Mother City’s iconic mountain – our location is unbeatable.
• All our staff has a love of wine. When you dine at De Grendel Restaurant our waiters will recommend which De Grendel wine is suitable to pair with your meal. Each dish is crafted with a wine that will accompany it in mind. You can order De Grendel wines by the glass in the restaurant, and can purchase bottles to take home from the restaurant at cellar door prices.

“The De Grendel Restaurant team is extremely proud to have received yet another TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. This award shows us that hard work pays off and motivates us to be even better going forward. With the amazing team that we have working together, chefs and service staff, we aim to provide an experience that you will never forget,” Belinda Visser, De Grendel Restaurant FOH Manager.

Click here to find out more about the De Grendel Restaurant and to make a booking.

We have been so excited to launch our all-new Sir David Graaff, First Baronet of Cape Town 2013 red blend. This premium wine is a wonderful addition to our offering, and a highly-collectible, says De Grendel cellarmaster Charles Hopkins. But what really makes a wine collectible, and whats the difference between a delicious bottle of red that comes with a R70 price tag compared to one that clocks in at over R1 000?

Is it oaked?

The most desired wines in the world age their wines in oak. The process ads “flavours” to the wine and exposes it to oxygen. “Oxygen does some amazing stuff to wine: the tannins become less intense and the taste of the wine becomes smoother. Since oxygen permeates through the barrels, some of the wine inside also evaporates at a rate of about 2% per year. This evaporation is called the ‘angel’s share’ but the result is that the wine in the barrel tastes more concentrated,” explains WineFolly. Regarding the First Baronet, “the wine spends 20 to 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels,” says Hopkins.

What grapes are used?

A vine that produces less grapes will also produce grapes that make wines with more intensity. The First Baronet is a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. “I used blocks that I have been making wine from for many years and I know the potential of each lot. The Cabernet and Shiraz are older than 25 years and bear very small crops with very small berries. Very old block grapes are jewels on their own and sadly there is not a lot left in South,” says Hopkins. The grapes were also hand picked at optimum ripeness and were vinified to extract maximum colour, tannin and varietal character in the process.

Limited in numbers

With the above factors in mind, De Grendel produced 3 344 bottles – all hand numbered. We have released a portion, but will be releasing it in limited numbers in the years to come. “This is a highly collectible wine because of its quality, exclusivity and that fact that is has really good potential under ideal conditions to last for 15 to 20 years,” says Hopkins.

The Sir David Graaff, First Baronet of Cape Town 2013 is available for R1 380 here.

Why De Grendel cellar master Charles Hopkins is excited about this year’s wines.

“It’s an exceptional vintage,” is the verdict of De Grendel’s cellar master Charles Hopkins. The 2017 vintage was produced on the back of one of the driest summers the Western Cape has experienced in decades, but two factors contributed to a successful crop this year, compared to last, he says. “We had about 10 millimeters of rain in December and we had cool nights, which led to a good crop. Last year when we had heat wave conditions we also had very hot nights,” recalls Charles.

On the size, Charles reports the Sauvignon Blanc in particular produced about 15% more fruit, which he accounted to an absence of wind “in the critical days when the vines are flowering”. All in all, Charles is impressed with the acidity of the harvest in general.

Last year required an exceptionally early harvest, while 2017’s conditions allowed the De Grendel team to harvest a full week later, around the fifteenth of January for the “bubbly”, and then Charles reports they waited a further 10 days before harvesting Sauvignon Blanc. “We were able to harvest a full week to two weeks later this year as the fruit ripened later,” he says.

A small portion of De Grendel’s fruit is bought from eleven farms that Charles works with. “We were able to produce 70% percent of the grapes we needed this year at De Grendel, which is the ratio we usually work towards,” he says.

When asked to compare the vintage to last year, Charles says he doesn’t believe in comparisons. “I see winemaking as a journey, not a destination! The quality we were aspiring in this vintage is there; I’m very happy about that.”  When pushed to highlight a star of the harvest, Charles raves about De Grendel Koetshuis 2017, with nearly tripled the tones of grapes produced this year compared to last. “It has great potential,” he says.

To celebrate Mothers' Day on the 14th of May, a lucky De Grendel fan will walk away with a wine and fashion hamper that is simply WOW! Enter as many times as you like via the widget below.

The prize consists of a R3 500 shopping voucher at Habits Fashion boutique, redeemable online at www.habits.co.za or in store, PLUS 6 bottles of our brand new vintage De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2017, not yet released for sale, & 6 bottles of De Grendel Rosé 2017!

PS: You'll be one of the first to taste this new vintage of Sauvignon Blanc!

Win a R3 500 Habits Gift Voucher & 12 Bottles of De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2017

*Standard T&Cs apply. Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in South Africa. Competition closes on 13 May 2017 at 12pm.