News
Why We Loved 2016 at De Grendel
It was a tough year, overshadowed by drought, but our Durbanville farm still found much to celebrate.
De Grendel Restaurant Named Best Scenic Restaurant in SA
We are privileged to have the best views of Table Mountain. Sipping a glass of De Grendel wine as you watch a sunset, or the dramatic “table cloth” sweep down the slopes, is an unbeatable experience – and hundreds of visitors agree. That is why De Grendel Restaurant was awarded the title of Best Scenic Restaurant in the 2016 World Luxury Restaurant Awards. The restaurant was also awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, which was accounted for by the quality and quantity of reviews from visitors over the year. Thank you to all of those that shared their experience on TripAdvisor.
De Grendel Takes Home an Array of Awards in 2016
De Grendel Partners with Knysna Oyster Co.
What goes better together with a sparking glass of De Grendel MCC Brut than oysters? With this magical food pairing in mind, De Grendel wines has partnered with the Knysna Oyster Co to ensure the finest oysters are served with only the finest wines!
The Knysna Oyster Co (www.oystersonline.co.za), specialise in fresh, cultivated, Pacific oysters, produced in the cool, clean waters of Nelson Mandela Bay and Namibia. “Our oysters adhere to the SA Shellfish Monitoring and Control Program and we test our oysters according to international standards. Our oysters are harvested daily and after cleaning and a purification period in tanks, they are hand inspected and packed into boxes,” says co-owner of the Knysna Oyster Co, Gavin Schapphoff.
The partnership, announced in October 2016, coincides with the Knysna Oyster Co’s launch of an oyster bar at the V&A Waterfront’s Food Market. The contemporary 40-square meter stall serves a range of fresh oysters to be enjoyed in various ways. These include Oysters Au Naturale (with lemon and tabasco), Oh So French! (a classic vinegar and shallot mignonette on an oyster) and Oysters Pili Pili (paw paw & mango with hints of cilantro & onion). “We also supply restaurants at the V&A Waterfront offering them a service to source only the freshest oysters,” says Schapphoff.
Introducing Winelates: Wine & Pilates Prove a Winning Combo
Join us on the De Grendel Tasting Stoep for a special wine and Pilates morning with Nic from NixPilates on the 19th of November.
| DATE: | 19 November 2016 |
| TIME: |
9h30 - De Grendel MCC Brut arrival drink 10h00 to 11h00 - Pilates with Nic 11h00 to 12h00 - Wine tasting & canapes |
| WHERE: |
De Grendel Wine Estate Tasting Stoep |
| COST: | R250 per person |
We only have space for 25 people, so make sure you book early to avoid disappointment.
All bookings must be sent to Anzelle at club@degrendel.co.za or call 021 558 6280.
NEW! De Grendel Amandelboord Pinotage Makes Its Debut
The launch of the De Grendel Amandelboord Pinotage goes hand in hand with the ten year anniversary of our cellar. 3rd Baronet Sir David Graaff continued the legacy of his forbearers by opening a new era wine cellar in 2006.
De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2016 is One of the Best in South Africa
De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2016 has been announced as one of the top 10 Sauvignon Blancs in South Africa for 2016 by the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition, organized by the South African wine industry’s Sauvignon Blanc Interest Group (SBIG).
De Grendel Takes Home 13 Awards at the Veritas Awards 2016
De Grendel scooped a total of 13 Veritas Awards at the 26th Veritas Awards. Most notably, Double Gold for De Grendel Shiraz 2015 and Gold for De Grendel Shiraz 2014.
The Veritas Awards is one of South Africa’s most prestigious consumer-oriented wine competitions run by the industry for the industry.
“Achieving Double Gold for De Grendel Shiraz 2015 was particularly rewarding for me. This was a fantastic vintage and we managed to produce one of the best Shirazes we have ever made,” says De Grendel cellarmaster Charles Hopkins. “Analyses on last year's juice indicated lower nitrogen levels. This also reflected in the vineyards with less vigorous growth as well as smaller clusters and berries. A definite plus for red wine colour and quality,” he says.
The Double Gold winner, De Grendel Shiraz 2015, is available online at www.degrendel.co.za, at the De Grendel Tasting Room and at the De Grendel Restaurant.
De Grendel Double Gold, Gold and Silver Veritas 2016 winners:
De Grendel Shiraz 2015 – Double Gold
De Grendel Shiraz 2014 – Gold
De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2015 – Silver
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2016 – Silver
De Grendel Brut MCC 2014 – Silver
De Grendel Rubaiyat 2013 – Silver
De Grendel Koetshuis Sauvignon Blanc 2008 – Silver
De Grendel Shiraz 2005 – Silver
Meet the New Wildlife at De Grendel
De Grendel has had some beautiful new arrivals... New to the estate is a herd of eland. We've been waiting for months to them arrive, and finally the permit and all the logistics we needed were sorted and we welcomed them to the slopes of the Tygerberg Hills. These beasts used to roam freely in the area, and now De Grendel is reintroducing them, along with bontebok, and soon red hartebeest.
Eland were once on the verge of extinction because of excessive hunting for their meat. Fortunately, their numbers have increased significantly since they were made a protected species.
Bontebok were also once extensively killed as pests, reduced to a wild population of just 17 animals. Thankfully the species has since recovered too.
Rob Slater, the stud manager at De Grendel, is in charge of looking after all the cattle on the farm, which has come to include these wonderful additions of wildlife. He shares with us his experience on the farm, and what it entailed settling the eland in.
Where are the new animals from?
The Eland are from Villiera Wine farm near Stellenbosch. The Springbok belong to our cellarmaster, Charles Hopkins - they are not indigenous to the area and are only here temporarily. We also have seven Bontebok and we are expecting one of them to lamb in the next two weeks.
How old are they, and what are their genders?
We have one big bull Eland and two young bulls, one big cow and two young Eland cows. We are still waiting for the delivery of the others, and then there will be a total of 15 Eland on the farm.
Why did the new buck come to De Grendel?
Sir De Villiers Graaff is looking at reintroducing indigenous game to the Tygerberg Hill and slopes that form part of De Grendel. We are also getting seven Red Hartebeest and another 10 or so Bontebok in the near future.
How are they settling in and fitting in with the other animals?
The big Eland bull is patrolling the boundary fence a lot, which he will get used to hopefully. Otherwise all seems settled and happy. Eland are quite peaceful.
How do you tend to them?
Their water trough gets checked daily, they get counted regularly and their coats are checked from afar with binoculars for any changes that could relate to parasites or nutritional problems.
What were the biggest challenges getting them to De Grendel?
The time it took to get through all of the red tape! But we wanted to do it properly and legally, so our patience was eventually rewarded.
What are the biggest challenges facing them now?
They have to get used to all of the different noises from the city, which includes aircraft flying over us all the time. Plus they have to get used to the new fencing, the boundaries and the new habitat.
What is in store for them in the future?
The possibility of roaming almost the entire Southern slope of the Tygerberg Hill when phase two of the game section happens, which is the aim.
Splashing into Spring with Season of Sauvignon
De Grendel signals the start of the spring season with a month full of white wine celebrations. As a part of the Durbanville Wine Valley’s seasonal festival, which matches jubilance with elegance, Season of Sauvignon is the best way to indulge in spring and celebrate the magic of wine.
De Grendel Brings Home Three Big Wins in the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards
With the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards celebrating its 20th anniversary, it was a truly proud occasion for De Grendel to win three awards. De Grendel Shiraz 2015 won Platinum, De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2015 won Gold, and De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2016 won Silver.
The De Grendel Shiraz 2015, which will be released in October 2016, was awarded Michelangelo Platinum. De Grendel cellarmaster Charles Hopkins predicted the 2015 red wines would be particularly special, thanks to various factors, including challenging conditions such as the low rainfall. “The clusters and berries were smaller, which is definitely a plus for red wine colour and quality,” he says.
“Particularly dry and windy climactic conditions during flowering culminated in a 15% reduction in crop size throughout the Coastal Region. This reduction in cluster volume, coupled with cooler weather towards ripening, produced berries with a superior concentration of fruit flavours and increased colour intensity in the red varietals. Additionally, the smaller clusters facilitated a harvest that was earlier by up to 15 days. In conclusion, the vintage of 2015 has the potential to rival the finest vintages in recent years,” he continues.
“The team at De Grendel are particularly proud of the Gold awarded to De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay 2015,” says Sir De Villiers Graaff. “This is a very competitive category.” The De Grendel Op Die Berg Chardonnay’s vineyards are situated on top of the Witzenberg Mountain in Ceres. Grapes are all hand-picked and brought to De Grendel in an immaculate condition due to the cool ripening temperatures resulting in a well-balanced, medium bodied Chardonnay.
The De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2016 also won a silver medal at the awards.
All wines are judged blind according to the international 100-point system and awarded Platinum, Grand’Or, Gold and Silver medals.