Stellenbosch Central

Stellenbosch Wine Town

Stellenbosch is renowned as the town of abundant oak trees, the Eikestad, or either a historic Cape Dutch or university town. Yet it’s also a wine town – even if many of the vineyards and wine farms lie on its periphery. By Fiona McDonald.

It’s noticeable nowadays just how popular a tourist destination Stellenbosch is. Whenever I visit Stellies I see large buses negotiating the narrow streets or tourists strolling around, cameras slung about their necks, speaking German, Swedish or French.

One thing tourists love to do is see the sights by foot, so it’s fantastic that a few wineries are within walking distance of Stellenbosch central. An anchor tenant in the Bosman’s Crossing development near the Stellenbosch station is Stellekaya, open from Monday to Saturday. IT fundi Dave Lello is a fan of the “virtual winery” concept, preferring to have bricks and mortar to hectares of vineyards. His winemaker Ntsiki Biyela and consultant Mark Carmichael-Green source parcels of fruit throughout the winelands and truck them to the winery for vinification.

You walk through a vaulted tunnel when visiting Stellekaya – and the ceiling is inlaid with starry lights, a theme that continues to the wines, many of which have starry names. The focus is on red with the Hercules, Orion and Cape Cross blends. Also available are three single variety wines – Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. R15 gets you a tasting and a glass while R30 will include a cellar tour.

The Dalla Cia family decided to make the most of the estate agent’s maxim of “location, location, location” when they too established their winery and grappa distillery at Bosman’s Crossing in 2007. After patriarch Giorgio Dalla Cia, a legendary figure in South African wine circles, retired from Meerlust he began his own label. For the first few years Dalla Cia wines were made in rented cellar space but both he and son George are happy that they have a home. “Moving the still from Meerlust was a nightmare but it’s done, fully installed and working well,” says George. Afoot are plans to make other fruit distillates too – like plum schnapps or even an Armagnac-style product. “Now that we have the space we can play a bit more…”

Tasting Dalla Cia wines is a very personal affair and takes place in the family’s Panee Vino restaurant. Very often either Giorgio or George are around and on hand to take you through the wines.

If it’s just wine you want, you can do so – but if you want to truly experience them, try them alongside Elena Dalla Cia’s typically Italian food. That’s why the wines are offered in taster option, full glass or bottle – you pay according to what you settle for. “We often found that people would come in to taste two or three wines and then end up settling back and enjoying a full glass or two!” says Elena.
The label started off with a Sauvignon Blanc and has grown to encompass a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and the Giorgio red blend.

Giorgio likens himself to a painter using colours when he’s blending. “Grappa keeps me alive but wine is for fun, for pleasure… If I get excited and come up with a great wine, that’s fantastic. I love what I’m doing.”

About a kilometre down the road is Middelvlei – and it’s hard to believe that this 130ha farm is so close to Stellenbosch suburbia. Stil-Jan Momberg is the patriarch of Middelvlei but it’s his two sons, Tinnie and Ben, who actively farm the vineyards and make the wine. It’s also a bit of a menagerie because Ben loves animals and is a keen conservationist. Recently Middelvlei became home to two abandoned Cape Fox pups and the Momberg’s sausage dog bitch – which had never had a litter of pups before – began lactating and mothered the orphaned pups! But you’re assured of a warm animal welcome – be it from the Great Dane, Boerbul, dimunitive goats or whatever is around…

The tasting room is in a beautifully converted stable block and is open from 10h00 to 16h30 Monday to Saturday. Tasting costs R15 and there are cellar tours daily at 11h00 and 15h00. Pinotage has been the farm’s strong suit but of late Tinnie has been having fun with Shiraz. Probably the best expression of the farm is in the Momberg, a new red blend launched late in 2007. It’s a Pinotage, Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon blend that is a seriously good wine. More instantly pleasing are the Red Falcon (Merlot/Shiraz) and Pinotage Merlot blends aimed at everyday drinking.

There are other “wineries” on this route which are open by appointment. The High Road and Vilafonté (try the Series M and Series C!) are between Dalla Cia and Stellekaya while Boschheim is between Stellekaya and Middelvlei.