In today’s review we’ll have a look at a different topic than usual, please let me know your opinion about it in the comment section below this article or on my post on Instagram. I’ll tell you something about the Oldenburg Vineyard, located just a few minutes from drive Stellenbosch, in the mountainous region right next to the Town. When entering the Valley where it’s located, you’re entering a valley that seems far away from any civilization, a calm oasis in the middle of the crowdy Cape Town area.
The main purpose to visit the Vineyard of course is for the Wine, especially for tasting them. When visiting Oldenburg, I was pleasantly surprised, as it’s not known that well by the wide public, it’s not that touristic and focuses more on quality than on money, at least it seemed so. The “Tasting Room” is located at the end of a small road, the parking lot is packed with awesome looking greenery. Behind you can already spot the extremely modern building where the tastings take place. Even though being extremely modern, the architecture is kept in a classic style which makes the building fitting perfectly in the landscape. You can have a seat just behind a big glass front where you have an awesome view over the “Rondekop” an iconic hill in the middle of the valley. Around and on this mountain, the grapes for the wines are grown, the different climate situations caused by the hill ensure best conditions for a perfect adjustment of the places where the different sorts of grapes are grown.
The prices are verry reasonable, considering the quality you get. The most popular Tasting option, the “Oldenburg Vineyards Series” comes to only ZAR 200 per person, for this money, you get some snacks and water besides the 8 wines you can taste. As well, the staff is extremely friendly and gives you some nice side facts on the wines you’re going to try. As it is not too overcrowded, they take themselves a lot of time to give you a really personal experience.
Now let’s talk about the wines itself, as the valley is located higher in altitude than Stellenbosch, the grapes get ripe at the same time as their peel does, which makes the wines not that massive in taste like others from the Cape Town area, the flavors are more in the detail, the wines taste extremely soft and with every sip, you can discover new flavors. Also, they try to reduce the amount of new oak in the barrel, which helps the wines get more flavors, but also it makes the taste less strong. I definitely prefer that, as the wines are much more interesting in their taste. Also, the Vineyard has a rather young team. The history of the vineyard with this owner is not too long which is cool. As the owner love experimenting on their wines, which is lovely compared to the others in the region, the wines are always an adventure to taste. The wines also come with some great ageing potential, which can get difficult tough, as the wines are too good to keep them stored!
Summing up… I bought some wines and are still enjoying them at home. It was just an awesome experience. Next time in South Africa I’ll definitely visit Oldenburg one more time to check out their newest creations.
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