Bennie
Stipp, Marketing manager at De Wetshof, heard we were coming to Wine on the
River and invited us to come and do a special tasting on the farm of their
current and a couple of older wines and then have lunch with the family at
their home. We tasted through six of their really impressive Chardonnays, their
2014 Sauvignon Blanc, 2012 Riesling, 2010 Nature in Concert Pinot Noir, 2013
Naissance Cabernet and their 2010 Bordeaux blend, Thibault. This is a farm that
has produced serious quality, consistently. We tasted with brothers Johann
(viticulture and marketing) and Peter (winemaker) de Wet. The chardonnays are
very site specific and have made De Wetshof famous. Father Danie de Wet is the
person who first introduced chardonnay vines into South Africa and they make it
with such passion and commitment. Then we were treated to a visit to the private family home for a lovely
lunch of Smoor Snoek, country Lamb chops with all the accompaniments and a
delicious dessert. We thank them all for their very kind hospitality and great
wines.
The very French style avenue
of Plane trees taking you to the main building which holds the Tasting room . The
De Wet ancestors arrived at the Cape in 1694 and the family has been involved
in the wine industry ever since. The family bought this farm in 1952.
Two family horses
grazing in their paddock
Spring vines reaching
for the sun
The very imposing main
building. The wine cellars are next to it and behind it
The entrance and grand
staircase
THE ground floor is set
up for tasting and relaxing
Beamed ceiling, and
flagstone floor and good wood used on windows pillars and doors
A marvellous bronze Bateleur Eagle in flight. Bateleur is one of the Estate's premium chardonnays
Mrs de Wet and the new
addition to the family, a teenage Weimaraner belonging to Johann’s wife
Talking with Mrs Lesca de
Wet and son Johann
We move to the upstairs
tasting room. Lynne needs her notebook for the tasting
Just waiting for Peter
to join us
These are the wines we
tasted: Danie de Wet Sur Lie Chardonnay 2014; Limestone Hill Chardonnay 2014;
Bon Vallon Chardonnay 2014; Finesse Chardonnay 2013; The Site Chardonnay 2013;
Bateleur Chardonnay 2012; 2014 Sauvignon Blanc; 2012 Riesling; 2010 Nature in Concert Pinot Noir;
2013 Naissance Cabernet and the 2010 Estate Bordeaux blend Thibault. All,
without exception are excellent expressions of their cultivars and their terroir
Three different chardonnays
Johann took us through the flight of white wines
Wine tasting is boring for a good and patient dog
A lovely vista from an upstairs window
Winemaker Peter de Wet ready to take us through some wines
We learn more about the farm
Two more excellent wines. The Riesling must be influenced by Peter de
Wet’s training at Geisenheim in Germany
We learn of their passion for red wines as well as the white
Conversation at the table
Benny Stipp joined us for lunch
Danie de Wet
The Thibault is named after Louis Michel Thibault whose designs inspired the main
building
Johann in front of a picture of an ancestor. We see a family resemblance
Peter looking happy and relaxed
This is an ancestor of Lesca de Wet and we also saw family characteristics
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2014
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