Morgenster tasting room review
Morgenster - closed for tastings
Situated next to Vergelegen, Morgenster shares the same beautiful surroundings, with the Lourens River acting as a natural border between the two farms. Bought by capital-blessed Italian owner Guilio Bertrand in 1992 to retire on, he instead set about developing farm projects like olive farming and winemaking, the latter including the uprooting of white varietals. So you only get to taste reds at this winery. Three reds, to be precise. And this is the first thing you get told by the tasting attendant upon entering the premises: "They only do reds, and olives."
That is when they are open. Don't be misled by the signage at the gate or, as we were, by the wine sales and tasting hours indicated on their website, claiming to trade from 10h00 to 16h00 over weekends. My fellow tasters and I duly arrived, only to be greeted by an A4 printout pasted on the door reading "tastings closed". Upon enquiring, a tasting host wearing too much makeup insisted that tastings closed promptly at 14h30 - and it was 14h35.
Noticing a gathering of people tasting wines at an outside table, I informed Maybelline that we had driven all the way from Cape Town, and it would be most appreciated if she could just quickly run us through the wines. "No." She probably needed time to soak her waterproofed lashes. The only option was to drive back the following Saturday, with first impressions not leaving us excited.
On the day, two different attendants dressed as if to sell Amway products are running the show. We take a seat outside, where we remark that the beige swatches are very Tuscan. Subtle and understated. Less subtle is the smell of fertiliser in the air, but the scenery is relaxing and working through the three wines is an unrushed affair.
The host creates the impression that she has been here for a while and knows her product. It is the wines that do the convincing, though, these being serious reds for the consumer who knows how to appreciate a fine wine. The Lourens River Valley 2005, Tosca 2006 and flagship Morgenster 2005 (the 2006 just rated 5 Stars by Platter's but as yet not offered for tastings) are priced accordingly, which possibly explains the dollying-up of attendants - it is in line with the market they are targeting. Bit out of my league, though. I pay my R15 tasting fee and leave with a bottle of kalamatas instead. Tel 021 852 1738
OPEN: Mon - Fri 10:00 - 17:00,
Sat 10:00 - 16:00 (or so they claim)
SERVICE: 6/10 - maybe she's born
with it, maybe it's rehearsed.
AMBIENCE: 7/10 - tasting area
outside looks out on dam. Nice.
VALUE: 4/10 - at R300 for the
flagship and R202 for the Tosca...
QUALITY: 8/10 - for the man who
can recognise a fine wine.
I was the girl that had the unfortunate pleasure of attending to you, and because the "pen is mightier than the sword" you cost me my job.
Keep up the good work.
Love Maybeline "