Nestled in South Africa's rugged and picturesque landscape, approximately thirty kilometers from the southwestern tip of the African continent, lies the Cape Point wine area. This region is a haven for wine enthusiasts worldwide and boasts some of the finest and oldest wine estates. Cape Point (Cape Town WO) is globally recognized for its exceptional wines.
Cape Point Vineyards is a charming wine estate located at the beautiful Cape Point, offering stunning views of Noordhoek's mountain range and the sea. The winery sits on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and coastline. Here, refinement meets simplicity in the best possible way.
The history of Cape Point Vineyards dates back to the late 1990s when Sybrand van der Spuy, a South African entrepreneur, bought the property with the intention of creating a world-class winery.
Cape Point is not really the most southern tip of Africa, as many people believe. Cape Point Winery is situated in the foothills above Noordhoek with a sweeping view of the ocean and beach below. Their motto is “surf and wine,” and their hillside vineyards are a good example of extreme viticulture because the vines are battered by “southeasterners” - rough wind and salt-laden rain. This causes the skins to toughen up, creating more flavor and character in the wine.
Unique Terroir of Cape Point Appellation
The peninsula benefits significantly from the marine influence and is commonly known as the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The coastline marks the convergence of the warm Agulhas Current from the Indian Ocean and the cold Benguela Current from the Atlantic Ocean.
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Generally, the region enjoys a maritime climate due to warm breezes from False Bay and cool winds from the Atlantic. Sea mists and mountainous canopies also have an excellent influence on the grapes, allowing them to maintain acidity and freshness while they mature slowly.
Cape Point consists of well-weathered terroirs, offering thoroughly decomposed granite soil. This makes the soil less fertile and puts the grapes under stress. The stressed grapes then work harder to avoid its extinction, leading to highly concentrated and flavourful berries.
The soil is a mixture of sandstone and clay. Average temperature in summer is only 21°C (70°F), so it is quite a cool climate. They have 20 hectares of vineyards that were planted in 2000 on 8 x 4 spacing. They use a short VSP trellis, which is spur pruned with double cordon and a kicker cane on the sauvignon blanc to help deflect vigor. De-leafing is performed to insure the clusters get enough sun and heat to prevent green notes in the wine. Sustainable farming is used with some Round-up applied to combat weeds. Rocks are also placed under the vines to help keep them warm. Fava beans and mustard are planted as cover crops, and there were plenty of spring flowers to be seen.
History of Cape Point Wine Region
In the past, Cape Point was a South African Wine of Origin appellation. Since 2017, wines produced in this region have been labelled as Cape Town WO. It gets its name from the same-named cliff on the southern tip of the Cape Peninsula, which is about one kilometre east of the Cape of Good Hope.
What is Cape Point Wine?
Cape Point wine region is recognized for white wines such as Sémillon, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay, as well as red wines such as Shiraz and Pinot Noir. The Cape Peninsula, with its cool-climate seaside nook in the Cape Point region, makes great conditions for ripening of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes.
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The taste of the Cape Point white wines are rich, complex, but at the same time nutritious and refreshing, with a piquant, well-integrated acidity, subtle woody nuances and a lingering, deep, salty aftertaste. The aroma of the region's wine harmoniously intertwines floral, herbaceous shades with alluring fruity tones like ripe nectarine, papaya, mango, apple, grapefruit, and fig.
They only grow sauvignon blanc, semillion and chardonnay. Sustainable farming is used with some Round-up applied to combat weeds.
Wine Varieties
- Sauvignon Blanc: The vineyard is perhaps best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, which has won numerous awards over the years.
- Chardonnay: They also produce a delicious Chardonnay, which is fermented in French oak barrels to give it a rich, creamy texture.
- Pinot Noir: For red wine lovers, they offer a Pinot Noir that is light and fruity, with notes of cherry and raspberry.
- Merlot: Another popular red wine from them is Merlot.
Since then, these vineyards have expanded their offerings to include a range of other wines, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot.
We tasted through 8 wines, and I was most impressed by the 2010 and 2011 sauvignon/semillon blends. Earlier vintages had a lot of the green herbal charactertistics that are popular in South Africa, but the later vintages were perfumed with floral, grapefruit and even some pineapple notes. My favorite was the 2010 Cape Point Reserve which was a 90% sauvignon blanc and 10% semillion blend aged in 600 liter neutral barrel for 14 months. It has a ripe pineapple/grapefruit nose with lemon the palate and a crisp acid with very long finish. While there, one British MW showed us the “dribble test” which he uses to determine the acid level of a wine. You taste the wine, spit it out, then lean over and see how much “dribble” come out of your mouth. The more dribble, the higher the acid.
Sustainable Wine Farming - Shannon Vineyards
Sustainable Farming Practices
One of the things that set Cape Point Vineyards apart from other wineries in the area is its commitment to sustainable farming practices. The winery has taken several steps to reduce its environmental impact and ensure that its grapes are grown in the most natural way possible.
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They have implemented a range of sustainable farming techniques, such as cover crops, composting, and natural pest control. The winery also uses solar panels to generate electricity and recycles all of its waste materials. Cape Point Vineyards is a member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, which is a partnership between the South African wine industry and the conservation sector.
Wine Tasting Experience
If you’re planning a visit to Cape Point Vineyards, you’ll want to make time for a tasting in the winery’s beautiful tasting room. The tasting room offers a range of tasting experiences, from a simple tasting of four wines to a more extensive food and wine pairing.
Food to Pair with Cape Point Wine
Cape Point Vineyards offers an array of culinary options that beautifully complement its wine offerings. Here are some food pairings to enhance your wine experience:
- Brie de Melun: This soft, flat-shaped cheese prepared from unpasteurized cow's milk in the Aube and Yonne regions of France, as well as the Brie region of Île-de-France. It has a bright yellow body and a white, rotten rind with scattered crimson streaks. Brie de Melun requires more time to create, it matures for 4-8 weeks. The cheese has a tangy, musty, and straw-like taste. It pairs nicely with bread, pears, and lighter red wines that do not overwhelm the delicate notes of Brie de Melun.
- Pesto Trenette: This Ligurian pasta dish can be made as simply as using trenette noodles (or, alternately, bavette) with pesto Genovese basil sauce, another Genova-based Ligurian speciality. The pasta sauce, on the other hand, receives its creamy richness from a blend of pecorino and Parmesan cheese and is typically served with boiling diced potatoes and green beans. In Liguria, roasted pine nuts and more Parmesan cheese are usually added to trenette or bavette al pesto before serving. The meal makes a good pair with Cape Point white wines.
- Ostra ao bafo: Ostra ao bafo is a typical Brazilian oyster-based cuisine. The dish consists of cooked oysters and is often made using oysters, cachaça, and lemon juice. The oysters are cooked in a water-cachaça combination until the shells open. To halt the cooking process, they are withdrawn from the saucepan and placed on ice. After boiling, the oysters are given with lemon wedges so that each guest can pour some lemon juice over the oysters before eating. If preferred, ostra ao bafo can be served with a vinaigrette sauce made of honey, orange juice, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Events and Activities
Cape Point Vineyards offers a range of events and activities throughout the year. The winery also hosts a popular market every Thursday evening, where visitors can sample local food and drink, listen to live music and enjoy the festive atmosphere. If you’re looking for a more immersive experience, these vineyards offer guided tours of their vineyards and winery.
Places to Visit in Cape Point
Since the town belongs to the Cape Floral Kingdom, the biodiversity present in the region is diverse. Distinct flora and fauna species are found here, making Cape Point a worth-exploring place. In addition, there exists Table Mountain National Park that offers various adventurous activities, including hiking, photography, cycling, wildlife viewing, and more. Another exciting part is you can take the scenic Chapman’s Peak Road, drive through Hout Bay Harbour and Boulders, and reach the park. Tourists can also enjoy a variety of wine festivals celebrated there every year.
Cape Floral Kingdom
The beautiful Cape Floristic Region is located in South Africa's Western Cape and portions of the Eastern Cape provinces, as the name suggests. It is notable because it contains one-fifth of Africa's vegetation and is one of the world's most diverse and rich floral zones. This place, perched exactly at the point of the continent, is not only intriguing for those interested in flora, but also stunning. The whole Cape Floral Kingdom has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its extraordinary processes in terms of ecology and biology, notably owing to the Fynbos habitat, and its tremendous variety and abundance within such a small region.
Table Mountain National Park
Table Mountain National Park is one of South Africa's top tourist sites, with a rich cultural and natural legacy. Visit the Buffelsfontein Visitor Center, which has plenty of educational signs and displays all the flora and creatures to watch out for in each season.
Visitor Information
Cape Point Vineyards is a treasure amongst the many vineyards of Cape Town. Whether you’re looking to sample some of the world’s best Sauvignon Blanc or simply want to take in the breathtaking views, a visit to Cape Point Vineyards is sure to be a memorable experience.
Winery Description: Offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes, Cape Point Vineyards provides an idyllic setting for visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of the region while experiencing the local wine culture.
Location and History: Situated against the stunning backdrop of Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point Vineyards in Noordhoek, Cape Town, offers a unique terroir nourished by cool ocean breezes and ancient mountain soils.
Wine Tasting: Visitors to Cape Point Vineyards can expect an enriching wine-tasting experience set against unrivaled views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain. The wine tasting showcases a range of meticulously crafted wines, such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, and the flagship Isliedh blend.
Restaurant: Dining at Cape Point Vineyards is a delightful affair, offering an array of culinary options that beautifully complement its wine offerings.
Tours and Activities: The Wine and Climb experience, a unique 3-kilometer hike through the vineyards that includes four delightful wine-tasting stops, allowing participants to immerse themselves in nature while enjoying exquisite local wines.
Key Details for Visitors
- Enjoy stunning views overlooking Noordhoek Beach while sipping on world-class wines.
- Experience a relaxing atmosphere perfect for watching sunsets.
- Attend the weekly pop-up market offering diverse food stalls paired with excellent wines.
- Visit during less busy times to avoid crowds and potential delays in service.
- Bring your own picnic blanket for outdoor enjoyment on the lawns.
- Try different food options from both restaurant and bistro menus for varied dining experiences.
- Consider pre-ordering a picnic basket filled with delicious treats to enjoy by the tranquil dam.
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