Groote Post tasting room review

GROOTE POST - short and not so sweet

There's another dirt road that leads to Groote Post. And indeed, this is better than the one leading to Cloof Cellar. The sign at the turn-off warned that bookings are essential for the restaurant on the Groote Post premises - a steady stream of feet being obviously undeterred by the distance or difficult travelling conditions. And why should they be - Hilda's Kitchen is obviously worth the drive. But can you say the same for a visit to the tasting room?

 

Set amongst lush pastures and farm activities the scenery is pleasingly pastoral. In an attempt to evoke an authentic atmosphere at the cellar door, one enters the wine warren via the fermentation cellar. Unfortunately all original thought stopped at the doorway of the tasting room. The area is minute, with three barrel-top tables arranged in the small space. Framed certificates and awards adorn the walls, as well as an elaborate progress report of quagga breeding programmes in South Africa. I assume there is a connection between quaggas and the owners Peter and Nick Pentz. But no, there is none. It just looked pretty. This poster is about as random as the Robert Miles music playing.

Focusing my attention on the wines, I am quickly served by the tasting room attendant, who informs me began work here about three months prior - this is his weekend occupation, and he has no wine experience, he admits. When I ask him about their flagship wines, he does not know what I mean. Granted, the farm probably does not have a wine they refer to as a flagship - although the Reserve Sauvignon Blanc from this winery is quickly manifesting itself as such. The attendant knows there will be a 2009 Reserve, while the grapes in 2008 did not match up to expectations. The acclaimed 2007 Reserve Sauvignon is sold out, however.

We work our way through the wines with the very attentive assistant pointing us to the wine analyses on the laminated print-out.

The Groote Post Merlot gets us in the mood for steak, but sadly Hilda's Kitchen is not an option, as we haven't made a prior booking. There are cheese platters available - at R45 a pop you can treat yourself to a really small cling-wrapped cheese plate. We pass on this offering.

After tasting some of their felix culpa wine - the farm's "accidental" maiden Noble Late Harvest - I decide rather to buy a bottle (R85) for my own cheese and wine match at home - a far better deal. Tel 022 492 2825, www.grootepost.com.

OPEN: Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:00,
Sat & Sun 10:00 - 14:30,
public holidays 10:00 - 16:00
SERVICE: 4/10 - friendly but
knowledge seriously lacking.
AMBIENCE: 3/10 - dull, small and
random.
VALUE: 5/10 - the experience
detracts.
QUALITY: 6/10 - fair quality that is
reasonably priced.