New Life on the Old Werf
Life on the Spier farm is textured, diverse, nurturing.
Our Fair Trade accredited hotel and modern conference facilities offers peace in the vineyards, riverside rambles, food experiences and encounters with eagles. Our restored historical farmyard, the Werf, is surrounded by the original farm precinct buildings. These feature 21 architecturally noteworthy Cape Dutch gables – the most on any South African wine estate – making Spier a landmark destination in the Cape winelands.
At our wine tasting room on the farm, we give visitors an opportunity to experience what we value most at Spier, in one place. Beautiful wines. Art. Artisanal deli food, picnics and crafted dining, from farm-to-table, at Eight Restaurant and Eight-To-Go. On the Werf itself: an old school baker’s shop & café under the oaks, run by eminent South African chef PJ Vadas.
Spier is about a sense of place that resonates history and architectural legacy. All this and quite a lot more. Hence the 2011 Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Award recognising Spier as the top international destination ‘Doing It All’.
The name Spier is associated with expertly crafted wines created at our award-winning Stellenbosch winery, established in 1692.
Frans Smit and his winemaking team have harnessed 3 centuries of winemaking history, transforming Spier into an award winning wine producer. The team crafts blends of distinction, and has decades of experience in identifying regional vineyards that are some of the Cape’s best kept viticultural secrets.
No range reflects Cellar Master Frans’ mantra – ‘Respect what the vineyard hands you’ – more clearly than the Spier Signature range, capturing each grape variety’s unique flavour without fail. This collection consistently expresses each grape variety’s character – repeated, remarkably, in every bottle.
Taste 300 years of heritage.
About Spier
Spier is one of the oldest wine farms in South Africa with a recorded history dating back to 1692. While rooted in this heritage, Spier has a vibrant and conscious energy. Award-winning wine can be paired with fabulous food, grown either on the farm or by nearby farmers. The winery is one of the most awarded in the country and the Spier Hotel and meeting facilities offer inspiring winelands getaways in the tranquility of nature.
Spier is committed to doing the right thing for the environment and communities, and is renowned for its responsible tourism approach. The farm has been recognized by various external organizations including Fair Trade in Tourism (FTTSA) and the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), and was awarded gold at the African Responsible Tourism Awards 2016 in the category of Best for Accommodation for Responsible Employment.
In 2011, Condé Nast Traveler World Saver Award recognised the estate as the top international destination ‘Doing it All’. Spier is a WWF Conservation Champion, and the cellar has ISO 22000 certification, is Fair Trade accredited, organically certified and follows the Integrated Production of Wine (IPW) criteria.
Spier’s environmental and social initiatives are many and varied, and include ways to reduce water usage. 100% of its wastewater, and more than 95% of its solid waste, is recycled. Spier supports local communities through the tree-preneur project, which encourages people in impoverished communities to grow trees in exchange for essential goods. The estate also supports entrepreneurs by helping them create micro-enterprises linked to Spier.
Winemaker:
Johan Jordaan
Origin:
Swartland, Paarl, Overberg and Stellenbosch in Western Cape.
Terroir:
Temperature: Winter 9/18°C; Summer 14/26°C
Annual Rainfall: 650mm
Proximity to Ocean: 20-60km
Clovelly, Hutton and Estcourt.
Vineyard and ClimateConditions:
Trellised vines are 16 -18 years old and planted on north-eastern slopes. The vines received supplementary irrigation and produced 10 tons per hectare.
Winemaking:
Grapes were harvested at 24° Balling, gently crushed, de-stemmed and cooled. After two days of cold soaking the juice was fermented until dry in stainless steel tanks at 24°C. Three pump-overs were conducted daily. After fermentation 20% of the wine was matured in French oak barrels for 8-10 months and the remainder matured in stainless steel tanks with French oak staves.
Analysis:
Alc: 14.23% TA: 5.60g/l
RS: 4.60g/l pH: 3.59
Appearance:
Rich regal red
Tasting Note:
Ripe red and black berries, plums and an undertow of eucalyptus and mint. This Merlot has sappy fruit, mint and soft tannins.
Serve With:
Perfect with a lamb casserole or a vegetarian dish.
This post is sponsored by Spier Wines.
