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The Stables Wine Estate Media Release |
No: Stables0701 |
20 Jan 2007 |
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Outstanding summer weather for KZN's first
Pinot Noir harvest
Nottingham Road – The Stables Wine Estate
harvested KwaZulu Natal’s first Pinot Noir this month, after what has been
described as a perfect summer for the maturation of the grapes at their
Greytown vineyard. "We are going to use these grapes to produce KZN’s very first Method Champagne," said Tiny van Niekerk, The Stables' winemaker. "The grapes will be gently bunch pressed using an old traditional basket press and fermented in drums to make a still wine which is then bottled into ‘Champagne’ bottles with some sugar and yeast and left to undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle for 18 months, where the fine small bubbles and crisp peachy flavours develop," he added. In South Africa it is not permitted to label a wine made in this manner a Champagne as this is reserved exclusively for the Champagne region in France, in this country the wine is typically called a Method Champagne or Method Cap Classique. The Stables Wine Estate is currently in discussions with the Wine and Spirit board in the Cape to change this name, as KZN will now have it’s own Method Classique from outside of the Cape. According to Diederik Le Grange, The Stables' viticulturist, the season has been a super one, with warm temperatures and very little rain, ‘The flavours in the grapes are developing extremely well’ says Le Grange. The next grapes to be harvested will be the Sauvignon Blanc, The Stables anticipate harvesting approximately 35 tons in early February. ‘This wine will most probably be on the market by May 07’ says van Niekerk, ‘expect a fruity wine with grassy tones’. The Stables are amongst the first few wine farms in South Africa to harvest this year so far, along with wine farms such as Villiera in the Western Cape, who produce regular award winning Tradition and Munro Method Cap Classiques, who harvested their Pinot Noir on Monday 8 January. "This is an indication of how warm a season we have had in KZN," says van Niekerk, "Typically here we should harvest substantially later than the Cape." The Stables will also produce larger volumes of the popular Pinotage Clariet (a blanc de noir) this year in addition to Shiraz, Merlot, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon and a little Cabernet Franc. "In total we expect to harvest close to 100 tons of grapes," says Le Grange. In the past two years the growing wine industry in the province is creating substantial employment and shows signs of continuing substantial growth. "We at the Stables employ about 25 people already" says Judy van Niekerk, GM at The Stables, "which will continue to grow as more of our vineyards come into production, approximately 15 hectares are producing this year with a further 7 hectares to start producing next season, in addition we are planting another 4 hectares in spring most likely some more Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling." Towards the end of harvest, 30, 31 March – 1 April 07, The Stables are hosting KZN’s first ever crushing festival where members of the public are welcome to visit the farm and assist in crushing the grapes by foot stomping an age old tradition that promises to be a lot of fun, with music supplied by South African premier award winning acoustic guitarist Tony Cox. For more information contact The Stables on www.stableswine.co.za ENDS |
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| Photo | Caption | Photographer | Click to download the hi-res pic |
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The Stables Wine Estate Logo |
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Viticulturalist Diederik La Grange harvesting the Pinot Noir grapes from The Stables Wine Estate vineyard in Greytown. |
Gameplan Media |
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Patrick Makatini harvests grapes from The Stables Wine Estate's Pinot Noir vines early in January. The grapes will be used to make KwaZulu-Natals first ever "Method Champagne". |
Gameplan Media |
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Viticulturalist Diederik La Grange. |
Russell Peach/ |
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For any further information, or if you
cannot access the images, please contact: Gameplan Media (031) 764 3017 info@gamplanmedia.co.za |
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