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| mi-vine(m) Producer |
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| Groote Post Vineyards | Wines |
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The Darling area in the Swartland abounds with rugged, achingly poetic pastoral scenes and is peopled with an eclectic mix of endearing characters. Many who are introduced to this region fall instantly in love with it.
The Pentz familys love affair with Darling began in 1904 when current ... |
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 | | Cybercellar.com | http://www.cybercellar.com | | | eWine | http://www.ewine.co.za | | | The Vineyard Connection | http://www.wineshop.co.za |
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| About | Groote Post Vineyards |
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The Darling area in the Swartland abounds with rugged, achingly poetic pastoral scenes and is peopled with an eclectic mix of endearing characters. Many who are introduced to this region fall instantly in love with it.
The Pentz familys love affair with Darling began in 1904 when current owner Peter Pentzs grandfather established an award-winning dairy herd there. In 1972 the family purchased Groote Post and three adjoining farms. The Groote Post homestead, built in 1808, was Lord Charles Somersets "shooting box" and later the home of author Hildagonda Duckitt. Its name is derived from its original status as the largest guarding post in the area, established to protect cattle from marauding stock thieves.
In 2001, Peter and his son Nicholas shifted their focus to vines. Their determination to establish top quality vineyards has paid off - judging by the accolades that keep rolling in. Their most recent triumph was a gold medal at the 2004 Fairbairn Capital Trophy Wine Show for their wooded Chardonnay 2003.
Quality wine production goes hand-in-hand with environmental conservation on this historic property, whose massive 4000ha spread includes 117ha of vines alongside 2000ha dedicated to the UNESCO-proclaimed Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve. The indigenous Swartland renosterveld and Atlantis fynbos are rich in buck and bird life easily accessible to visitors from a game vehicle or bird hide.
Vineyard plantings are all on the south-facing upper slopes of the Kapokberg in the Darling Hills overlooking the icy Atlantic Ocean. Altitudes of the vineyards vary from 200m to 450m above sea leve. The prevailing summer southeasterly winds keep the vineyards cool throughout the warm summer months. The effect of these cooling winds is amply illustrated by the fact that Groote Post harvest their Sauvignon Blanc 3 to 4 weeks later than they do down in the Darling and Malmesbury areas.
Soils are deep with good water retention qualities. No irrigation is used and annual rainfall averages 480mm per annum. Viticultural consultant Johan Pienaar has overseen the vineyard developments.
The area is seen to be one of the upcoming areas of quality wine production in South Africa with its tremendous soils and Atlantic influenced cool climate. |
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