For the dedicated wine- lover, family holidays in the Western Cape can be a real challenge.
While you may want to be counting off the wineries visited, long-suffering family members will soon be rolling their eyes at yet another wine stop, and wondering when THEIR holiday actually starts.
Fortunately, more and more wine estates are embracing the idea of being a “wine tourism destination”.
Spier got in on the destination concept early and has long been a good option for a “something for everyone” outing, and they just seem to keep upping their game.
There’s a wealth of visual art to see, craft market browsing, interaction with artists and artisans in the on-site studio, an interactive “sound sculpture” garden, encounters with birds of prey and reptiles, Segway tours of the vineyards; self-guided walks to explore the farm’s 300-year history, natural environment and art; and piglets, rabbits, tortoises and chickens playground.
Plus a host of options for dining, picnicking and shopping for foodie treats.
And, importantly – wine!
That’s another area where the game has seriously been raised over the past decade or so with – the range of wines expanding and raking in multiple stars and awards.
Just a small sample of recent victories: South African producer of the year at the 2018 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC), plus the IWSC trophies recognising Spier’s 21 Gables Sauvignon Blanc (2017) and Chenin Blanc (2016) as the best in the world, and a pair of Platter’s five-stars for the Farm House Organic Chenin and the 21 Gables 2017 Chenin.
From the Signature range (quality stuff at pocket-friendly R50 to R70), to the top-end Creative Block blends (R110 to R160) and the single vineyard, single varietal 21 Gables (R200 up), Spier cellarmaster Frans Smit favours fruit freshness and a well-rounded mouthfeel, giving “mid-palate weight, not doughnut wine with a hole in the middle”.
Aside from all the things to do, the beauty of visiting Spier is that you can experience a host of interesting wines only available from the farm – vintage selections, port, the organic range, and hopefully a taste of Smit’s very special Frans K Smit red and white blends.
The Frans K Smit red, an old world style Bordeaux blend, will set you back about R900 and has ageing potential of around 20 years – it is seriously fabulous and should you find one in your Christmas stocking, treasure it!
If I absolutely have to pick a favourite, it would be the Creative Block No2 – a fragrant, rich and rounded sauvignon-semillon white blend; No3 – a deeply savoury Rhone-style red (shiraz, mourvedre, viognier); and the block-busting No5 – a deep, dark Bordeaux-style red.
The Creative Block wines are echoed in the Spier Arts Trust’s Creative Block project – currently on exhibition at the GFI Gallery in Park Drive – well worth a visit. It’s an affordable way to acquire works by either established SA artists or up-and-coming talents.
Either way, both will appreciate in value and enjoyment, much like a fine wine.