Vrede en Lust tasting room review
Where it's at
Cruising along the R45 towards Franschhoek for lunch at one of the town's excellent restaurants, there might seem little reason to dally, but that would be to miss out on the worthy destination that is Vrede en Lust, owned since 1996 by former information technology tycoon Dana Buys and family.
Part of the intrigue of Vrede en Lust is clearly its history. Huguenot Jacques de Savoye founded the farm in 1688 and the Buys family are the 17th owners since then!
One of the property's claims to fame is Cotage Fromage, a café, modern and airy in ambience, serving a menu largely based on gourmet sandwiches but also interesting salads, quiches and the like. ere is also a deli and fromagerie, stocked with loads of speciality cheeses, as well as olives and cured meats.
But to do justice to a meal at Cotage Fromage, best to start with a wine tasting. Vrede en Lust means "peace and passion" and this is apt. Wine tasting is done with each party at its own table, ensuring tranquil, personalised attention.
The high sweeping ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers and banquet-sized wooden tables are backdropped by a floor-toceiling doorway, framing a panoramic view of the vineyards. And if you think of passion in terms of energy, there is the welcome enthusiasm of the tasting consultants, regaling their audience with farm anecdotes. As well as an enjoyment of the wine itself, it is the histories and tales told which often make for a memorable farm experience, to be stored as a "must-return" note to self.
The top-of-the-range red is a Bordeauxstyle blend called Boet Erasmus, named after the famous rugby personality and Dana Buys's late grandfather (the 2007 costs R120 a bottle from the cellar). One of the farm's philosophies is that a single varietal rarely results in the complexity of a great blend.
When it comes to the whites, the Marguerite Chardonnay 2008 (R80) is worth seeking out for those who prefer elegance while the Viognier 2009 (R120) is an altogether more forceful proposition.
In 2005, Buys bought Casey's Ridge, a property in Elgin, and the Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (R69) is the first to be made with fruit entirely from this cool-climate ward. It's a wine that will find favour with those who typically find the acidity of wines from this variety too much to bear.
The Chenin Blanc (R40) is named after wines from this variety too much to bear. The Chenin Blanc (R40) is named after the woman, Karien, with whom the previous winemaker, a Frenchman, fell in love. Initially it was produced only for wedding functions, but it became so popular that it was released to the public from the 2005 vintage onwards.
Winemaker Susan Wessels was the youngest-ever winner of the Woman Winemaker of the Year competition in 2007. Among her wines of interest is the Mocholate Malbec 2009, which has the dark fruit flavours of the Malbec 2008, but with the additional nuances of coffee and chocolate. "It's flying out of the cellar," she advises.
Vrede en Lust also offers accommodation in the form of the Jonkmanshuis (including three deluxe suites) and the Manor House (which sleeps 10 people). Both buildings are set close to the vineyards with large oak trees providing ample shade. Guests can walk, run or cycle all the way to the top of the farm, or up into the forests above for a breathtaking view of the region. There's also a play area for children and a pétanque court.
COMPANY: Vrede en Lust
ADDRESS: Intersection of R45 and
Klapmuts Road, Simondium, Paarl
TEL: 021 874 1611
EMAIL: info@vnl.co.za
WEBSITE: www.vnl.co.za
VISITS: daily 10:00 - 17:00
