Boland Kelder tasting room review
Boland Kelder - have a braai
Boland Kelder outside Paarl has been off ering good-value wines to quaffers since its inception in the late '40s.
Wines without pretence are what you will find here, with the same modest principle applied at the tasting room. The building itself isn't too inviting: it's massive off -yellow façade does little to impress. The corrugated building around the corner also does not shout ‘glamour'.
Also on the premises are goats doing trapeze walks on the towers of a miniature castle - a meek attempt at imitating other famed Paarl winery Fairview, perhaps?
But it lacks the character of the latter and seems somewhat arbitrary, even if the farmyard feeling is present with a gaggle of hissing quacks in another corner of the yard. There are also braai facilities and numerous picnic tables, if you want to make a day of visiting Boland Kelder; their wines very much match these recreational activities.
The design of the tasting room creates the sense of being underground. It's got that cellar feel to it but for the layout of the room. Upon entering the tasting facilities, you pass the washrooms fi rst, which means that the first whiff you get is not that charmingly dank cellar smell but Glade toilet spray. It's a mild irritation.
A passage lined with framed awards takes you to the tasting area where a few tables are arranged in a rather confi ned space. Rather damp and dark, it's definitely not suited to those with claustrophobia. The only light seems to come from the fridge with soft drinks. We conduct our tasting at the counter (although the tasting attendant will also serve you at the tables). You can quaff away as all the wines are available for tasting at no charge. With close to 30 wines on the menu, you are spoilt for choice as many of these are included in the Best Value Wine Guide annually.
The attendant duly starts pouring our requested wines in between continuing with other duties. When I prompt her for more information, she mainly gets it from consulting a file.
I find that wines in the newly launched Private Cellar Range offer exceptional value for money, with the Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (R46) awarded 4 Stars in this month's category tasting. They also make a decent Cab for sub R80 in their Reserve Range.
For those into coffee/mocha-flavoured wine, Boland has introduced Cappapinoccinotage - a Pinotage that tastes like cappuccino. Obviously. At R40 a bottle you can have a few with every braai. Tel 021 862 6190, www.bolandkelder.co.za.
OPEN: Mon to Fri 08:00 to 17:00,
Sat 09:00 to 14:00. Closed on Sun.
SERVICE: 3/10 The wines do the
talking.
AMBIENCE: 5/10 Dark and damp.
VALUE: 7/10 Pretty good fi nds here.
QUALITY: 6/10 White wines are
very nice.
