Wine ward for Voor Paardeberg
2006-11-16
ONE of the best kept secrets in the wine industry, the Voor Paardeberg Wine of Origin Ward, has opened its doors to wine-tourism.
Voor Paardeberg is situated between the winegrowing areas of Paarl, Wellington and the Swartland, with an own identity and terroir due to the fresh sea breezes of the West Coast and fertile soil composition which create a specific quality in the grapes.
Voor Paardeberg has been demarcated as a ward in the Paarl wine district.
This unique wine ward consists of nine wine producers situated in an unspoilt part of the Cape Winelands who all produce wines of exceptional, distinctive quality.
The members are Vondeling, Bowwood, Horse Mountain Wines, Anthony Smook Wines, Detendu Wines, Oude Denneboom, Ayama Wines, Scali Wines and David Frost Estate.
Duimpie Bayly, who officially opened the visitors’ centre, said that the exceptional terroir of Voor Paardeberg and the quality of the grapes cultivated here, had already proved its wines to be of international awarding winning standards.
The first independently produced wine from this ward was vinified in 1999 under the Scali label and in the past six years other producers were added. Different ranges of wines from this ward are now available on both the local and international markets.
The style of these wines which are produced on the slopes of the Paardeberg are described as being more in the Rhone than the Bordeaux style, with cellarmasters concentrating on the production of red wine, although excellent white wines are also produced.
Shiraz, Viognier and old vine Chenin Blanc are some of the best cultivars in the area.
Not only does this area want to establish itself in wine tourism, but the area also offers numerous other tourism attractions.
These include the unique selective breeding programme of the Quagga on the farm Far Horizons, the home of Horse Mountain Wines.
Other attractions include the only orchid nursery in the Western Cape, the production of spring water, a racing stud breeding farm, as well as historical buildings on many of the wine farms and the natural beauty of the environment.
Another trump card of the ward is, also the fact that the visitors'' centre is based on the farm of local golfing hero, David Frost, where many of his golfing triumphs are on display.
For more information, the visitors' centre can be contacted on 869-8339.
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