.: The launch of the Terra del Capo and Anthonij Rupert Wines Tasting Rooms

Thursday, April 04, 2013

The launch of the Terra del Capo and Anthonij Rupert Wines Tasting Rooms

Welcome drink in the entrance to the Terra del Capo Tasting room was the newly released L’Ormarins Brut Classique which will retail at R110

The tasting room bar

Journalist Melvin Minnaar chats to Gary Baumgarten, Managing Director of Anthonij Rupert Wines

The restaurant area, where you can sit and watch the whole bottling line process through the glass wall

Fiona MacDonald, editor of Whisky Magazine, inspects the new decor done by interior designer, Francois du Plessis Interiors

Andrew Harris, the Brand Manager, tells us the background of the wines as we begin the tasting

The line up of glasses ready for the first round of tasting: from the left – L’Ormarins Brut Classique non vintage; Terra del Capo Pinot Grigio 2012; Protea Sauvignon Blanc 2012 and Protea Chardonnay 2010

Gidi Caetano, the hospitality manager, pours the wines for us

L’Ormarins Brut Cap Classique with good mousse

First flight

Gary Baumgarten telling us about the grapes, the vineyards and the wines

The knowledgeable serving staff behind the bar

There are always a lot of notes to take during a media wine tasting

The second flight of wines: Terra del Capo Sangiovese 2010 – our favourite; Protea Reserve 2011 and Terra del Capo Arne 2008

Great colour concentration on all the red wines

Our delicious and fresh lunch menu. All the antipasti vegetables are local as are the cheeses, the charcuterie is imported from Italy as they have not yet found a local supplier with the quality they are seeking.

Parma ham and melon

Caprese salad

The marinated artichokes were very special and a marvellous match with the Pinot Grigio

A beautiful plate of roasted vegetables, part of the Antipasti lunch, featured sundried tomatoes, grilled courgettes, chilli butternut slices, braised onions, quails eggs, cheese stuffed peppadews, chargrilled aubergine slices and mange tout.

The view from the Manor House; home to the Cape of Good Hope and Anthonij Rupert Wine ranges, features beautiful wooden beam ceilings, yellow wood floors and spacious areas for entertaining, furnished throughout in the style of the mid-nineteenth century in the Cape. Well-known interior designer Graham Viney was commissioned for this project as he is renowned for favouring the Cape Heritage style.

This is one of the oldest buildings in the area and was the Cape home of the late Graham Beck

Three of the vintage cars from the Rupert Collection Motor Museum at L’Ormarins

A magnificent feature bath in one of the guest rooms

The bedroom, full of soft comfortable furnishings and a four poster bed

The comfortable four poster bed, period chandelier, and antique mirror above the Victorian fireplace

Tasting our way through the Anthonij Rupert and Cape of Good Hope wines

The four beautiful Antonij Rupert reds. From the left: Anthonij Rupert 2009 Optima red blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a little Cinsault (R120); Anthonij Rupert Blend 2007 Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Merlot (R750) (the first SA wine to score 95 points in Wine Spectator); Anthonij Rupert Merlot 2007 (R410); Anthonij Rupert Syrah 2007 (R420)

The line-up of the wines we tasted in the afternoon

Very talented winemaker Dawie Botha, who guided us through the tasting, seated next to Fiona MacDonald

The scrumptious tea laid on for us after the tasting

A view of the garden through the magnificent front doors

A view of the Franschhoek mountains behind the farm

The Manor House shop carries all the wines and produce made on the farm. They have honey, olives, olive oil, spice rubs, small gifts and other offerings. These are also available from the shop at the Terra del Cape tasting centre