Delaire tasting room review
DELAIRE - rough diamond
After reopening in June this year following an extensive revamp, Delaire Graff Estate is making it into wine conversations for more than just the high turn-over in winemakers it's had over the last few years. It's worth checking out - since few wine farms apply this much liberal expenditures at tasting rooms.
Of course, the Delaire Winery is in the fortunate position of being owned by the British billionaire Laurence Graff - the Graff in Graff Diamonds International. Oprah Winfrey, David Beckham and wife Victoria, as well as sultans are amongst the clientele wearing Graff's jewels - and with no expenses spared in renovating operations at the Brit's South African farm on Helshoogte Pass outside Stellenbosch, it is safe to say that these bling-bearers will feel equally spoiled when tasting wines here.
Not because the wines are that great (yet) - but because everything else really is. There is nothing conservative about the building. Big and imposing, you don't need to be an interior decorater to know that some serious capital was invested in the tasting "lounge" (calling it a room would be an injustice). Leather seats and tables are arranged in the area where a granite (or is it marble?) fireplace is burning underneath a Kentridge-collaborated artwork. Staff members are in uniform and as immaculate as their surroundings. Upon seating we are immediately given an "orientation" speech. This is a big building and therefore it's needed. You can't just follow the in-house water furrows to the restrooms.
Orientation concluded, the attendant (one of few on the day) pours the first of the four wines on offer for the R25 tasting. He provides more information and then leaves - saying he will return in seven minutes, which he does on the dot, bringing some complimentary cheese sticks and cream cheese. We like these. Next we taste the Sauvignon Blanc 2008, made from grapes sourced from Durbanville, which technically disqualifies the use of the term "estate" - but who's complaining if this is the most decent wine on the list?
The attendant disappears for a while - opting to clean tables and avoiding eyecontact. We make use of the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views of the Helshoogte valley. There is a steady flow of feet and I note that people are readily attended to with the same poised attitude. We leave impressed - thinking that this might have been close to perfect, had the wines been more impressive. Tel 021 885 8160, www.delairewinery.co.za
OPEN: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 17:00,
Sat 10:00 - 16:00,
Sundays & Public
Holidays 10:00 - 15:00.
SERVICE: 6/10 - attentive, but needs some additional knowledge.
AMBIENCE: 10/10 - very, very wow.
VALUE: 4/10 - no diamond finds.
QUALITY: 4/10 - luckily wines are not measured in carats.
