The lady at the lake has made Saronsberg Cellar one of the most recognisable wine estates in the Cape Winelands. I’ve seen her in countless tweets and Facebook posts, but her tall frame is far more striking when you stand at her feet, gazing up at her steely, meditative face. This Angus Taylor sculpture is titled “From Earth From Water” and whether you find her intimidating, eerie, or ethereal, she certainly sets the tone for the impressive art and wine that you will find at Saronsberg Cellar in Tulbagh.
The tasting room is like a contemporary fine art gallery, with sculptures, paintings, and furniture leading your eyes across the massive, open, double-storey hallway. Even in the middle of winter, when the pergolas are covered in skeletal vines and the black clouds hang menacingly low on the craggy mountains, there is a warmth and intrigue that makes you want to stay a little longer.
Winemaker Dewaldt Heyns greeted us with in his beautiful rrrrolling accent that could only have meant that he grew up in Malmesburg. I haven’t heard a “Malmesburg bry” like that in quite some time and was transfixed when he took us on a tour through the cellar, explaining the prrrocess of hand harrrvesting, ferrrmenting, and how to detect the rrred berrry flavourrrs.
Dewaldt grew up on a grape farm and, after completing his studies at Elsenburg Agricultural College (Stellenbosch) in 1995, was appointed assistant winemaker at Rust en Vrede. He joined the Saronsberg team as winemaker in 2003 and has played a significant role in building and establishing the new cellar – which has its own share of artwork, with 2 Cow Parade pieces playing guard over the vats.
What a novelty it was to taste wines straight out of the barrel! Thanks to Dewaldt’s little wine thief, we were able to taste the difference between Shiraz in French oak and American oak barrels. While the Shiraz in French oak still has another 4 months to go in the barrel, it was already soft, with light floral notes and hints of dark chocolate, clove, and plum. The Shiraz in American oak had a distinctly sweeter finish with an essence of vanilla. We then sampled the Provenance Rooi, a slightly herbaceous Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.
Back in the tasting room, Dewaldt introduced us to their flagship wine, the Saronsberg Full Circle, a beautiful blend of the farm’s finest Shiraz, Grenache, Mouvedre, and Viognier. He explained that Shiraz grows particularly well in this valley and works with their style of winemaking. He then introduced us to what I believe is not-so-secretly his pride and joy…the Provenance Shiraz. For only R95 a bottle, the Provenance Shiraz consistently performs above its price class and is often awarded better than the premier wines of other farms.
Stay at Saronsberg Vineyard Cottages
The newly renovated Saronsberg Vineyard Cottages offer a cosy stay with beautiful views of the farmlands, horse paddock, and giant blue mountains which are often dusted with snow in the winter. The fireplace is a welcome spot to congregate with a warm blanket and glass of Saronsberg wine. Guests can choose from 1 or 2-bedroom self-catering cottages. Read more about our stay here.
Whether you stay for the weekend or pop in for a wine tasting, Saronsberg is a top attraction for fine art and wine in Tulbagh.
