Enter the new wine ward: Pearl's Gate
2005-12-08
A GROUP of ten cellars, ranging from boutique to major commercial wineries clustered around the Atlantic seaward side of Paarl Mountain, have united to form “a circle of wineries” called Pearl’s Gate.
They intend establishing the proposed mini-region as a wine ward within the greater Paarl area, where award winning world-class wines are made.
The owners and winemakers of Bernheim Wines, Boland Kelder, Domaine Brahms, Crow’s Nest (Marcel de Reuck), Nelson Estate, New Beginnings, Rhebokskloof, Ridgeback Wines, Under Oaks and Windmeul are serious about making this area a fun place to visit. All this within a circular drive of about 15km.
This well-kept secret has a blend of established wineries, together with some new blood in the industry - a microcosm of the wine industry - all offering something unique and different for “a winelands tour in a day”.
The awards won by their wines over the past decade speak volumes and have found wide acclaim on both the international and domestic stage, but it is only when they are grouped together that the true potential of the area is realised.
With this in mind and looking at the individual capability of each, they realised the sense in co-operating and so working off each others' strengths in attracting wine lovers and holidaymakers.
At the launch of Pearl’s Gate on a granite ledge high on Paarl Mountain, Alan Nelson (one of the ten driving forces behind the venture) said that much had been written about some of the individual members, but very little about the mini region as a whole.
“You can only judge a family by the achievements of all of its members,” he said.
“It is only when the combined achievements of the region, only 10 by 6 kilometres in extent, are taken together that it becomes evident that this is one of the best wine growing regions in the world.”
Nelson highlighted some of their achievements.
* In consecutive Vinexpo Competitions in Bordeaux - 2001 and 2003 - Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz wines made from grapes grown in the region were judged by separate panels and found to be the best in the world.
* The best red wines in South Africa this year, as produced by Spier, were made from grapes grown on the company’s Nooitgedaght farm adjacent to Nelson Estate.
* Other accolades this year include 1 Grand Gold and 4 Gold medals claimed at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, while 12 medals were collected at the Michelangelo International Wine Awards in South Africa.
* A Shiraz from the area was also judged to be the best red wine on show at the South African young wine show, while last year’s Veritas Awards delivered 4 double gold, 6 gold and 10 silver medals.
Cool evening breezes off the Atlantic Ocean contribute to the quality of the grapes.
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