An introduction to Oldenburg

The visit to this wine farm on Tuesday was a first for us. It has also been called Rondekop after the round hill in the middle of the farm. Oldenburg is owned by Adrian van der Spuy, whose family Trust owned the farm. He is an investment banker who lives in Switzerland who visits regularly. In 2001 on a regular visit back to the Cape, he tasted Thelema 1998 Cabernet and was inspired to buy back the farm from the family trust and start planting good terroir specific grapes. Now, 14 years later, they have a good portfolio of wines, mostly reds. We started the day with a glass of their lovely rich and golden Chenin Blanc and went on to taste the others with lunch

The tasting venue set in this most beautiful valley

A long table had been set up for the tasting and lunch in the middle of the cool tasting room. It has marvellous views of the mountains and of Rondekop hill where the grapes are planted 360 degrees around the hill, behind it.

Nice solid modern design. This is the tasting room counter

Another view of the tasting room

The stunning view from the Tasting room of the Drakenstein mountains on the left, Rondekop hill in the centre, and the Jonkershoek mountains on the right. Even at this height above sea level, they have lots of mountain springs and a river running through the property

Raymond Noppé, their Regional Manager, is also a Cape Wine Master. He told us the history of the farm, the vines and the wine

The tasting room staff, who looked after us very well indeed: Marietjie Willemse

Cellar door and Office Manager and Louisa Adonis, Receptionist / Front of House

Raymond told us that Oldenburg is not currently an Estate because, while they do grow all their own grapes, they do not yet have a cellar, so all the grapes are vinified on Glenelly . They will be building a cellar on Oldenburg in the next few years.

Winemaker Simon Thompson has been with Oldenburg since 2009. He briefly and generously joined us for lunch as he is right in the middle of harvest at the moment

Everyone was delighted to discover that our lunch was being prepared by Chef/caterer Craig Cormack of the Goose Roasters. We all know his food well.

The first course, served with the 2012 Chardonnay, was seared gnocchi with wild mushrooms, an intense mushroom puree and a truffle espuma. It was truly wonderful and very inspiring for the home cook like Lynne

John had the Gnocchi with the truffle espuma

Oldenburg’s flagship 2011 Syrah is made in the Rhône style and has white pepper, and berries on the nose and rhubarb, mulberries and hot spicy peppers, spices and some vanilla, from the use of a little US oak, on the palate

A selection of wines to taste with our main course: Their interesting 2011 Cabernet Franc really impressed with the black olives and savoury umami, cassis and ripe brambles nose. It has great richness and savouriness on top of full on fruit on the palate and finishes with a nice dark toasted oak flavour.

Definitely a great match for the main course of tender fillet steak on a carrot puree with a potato gallete and a rich wine jus.

Raymond takes us through the tasting. At the head of the table is Ina Basson who is the Sales & Marketing Manager for the farm. And on the right Anel Grobler and Jan Loubser of Spit or Swallow. We also tasted the 2010 Cabernet, It is full of fruitcake aromas with violets, cassis and lead pencils and a complete cassis motherload on the palate. A classic. Then finally Rhodium 2010 which is their flagship wine. A classic Bordeaux blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine needs lots more time but will take them places when it is ready. The 2011, soon to be released, also has Petit Verdot and Malbec. We did not taste this.

Dessert was small and superb. A rich brioche pain perdu, topped with a roasted plum and good rich vanilla ice cream and surrounded by a crème anglaise.

The elegant lounge area

From the other side. It also has great views

A classic Cape mountain vista, one painted many, many times by artists. These are the Drakenstein mountains – translated it means the Dragon’s Mountain and you can see his smoke rising above it when the South Easter starts to blow. This famous Cape wind, also called the Cape Doctor, funnels down from the gap in the middle of the mountains and has a major cooling affect on the vines of Oldenburg. It blows down between the rows of vines which are planted specifically in that direction to get the benefits.

Thank you to Oldenburg and Manley, their PR company, for organising efficient and good transport (Kenneth at A2B Tours) for us to get to and from the farm. We had a lovely day

© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014

Return to MENU