Boschendal Wine Estate
Planeta
Deux Roches (Collovray et Terrier)
Quails’ Gate
Maison Roche de Bellene
Boschendal Wine Estate
Elgin, Overberg, South Africa
About Boschendal Wine Estate
Boschendal lies between the Simonsberg and Drakenstein mountains an hour’s drive from Cape Town. The name Bos-en-dal, or wood and valley, reveals its essence: a breathtakingly beautiful valley basin of 1800 hectares. Location, the sheer scale, natural splendour and history make exploring Boschendal compelling. It beguiles and inspires wonder with its unique spirit of place.
One of the most established and iconic wine estates in South Africa, Boschendal constantly strives to balance tradition and innovation in wine making, appealing to a new generation of wine lovers whilst continuing to create wines with signature finesse and elegance – where one can taste the terroir in each glass.
With cottages scattered across the vast expanse and changing landscapes of the property, guests have a chance to immerse themselves into the many layers of South Africa’s second oldest wine farm. Dating back to 1685, Boschendal is a place where generations of families have worked. It is these combinations of stories and histories, mythical landscapes and mysterious mountains that compel repeat visits. Great places need time for understanding and the unravelling of their complexities.
Located near the Franschhoek Valley deep inside the Cape’s Floral Kingdom, it is a place where over 600 species of fynbos and 1000 hectares of protected nature reserve intertwine with our fruit orchards. It is a spectacular, bio-diverse environment. It is a place where grass-fed Angus cattle, forest-fed pigs and free range chickens work alongside our farmers to replenish and revitalise the soils. It is a place where our ducks help gardeners grow exquisite bio-dynamic produce for our two restaurants – we very much like the idea of farming and cooking with nature, and not against it. It is a place where guests can swim in our dams and feel comfortable picking fruit from our orchards – we like sharing our extraordinary produce. The only choice to make is whether to explore this magical place by foot, by pedal or by horse.
We recognize the uniqueness of this place as there are few places like it and feel strongly that this exceptionalism should define every guest experience. Experiences that replenish, re-energise and reveal the magic of farm living.
There is something special happening at Boschendal. We hope to see you on the farm soon!
Representative Biography
Danielle Coetsee, Boschendal White Wine Winemaker
For a lucky few, there is a definitive moment when the world quietly slips away, and all that remains is an inspired instant between you and the wine that leaves you awestruck. For others, it’s a special memory that confirms your love for wine. For Danielle Jacobs, Méthode Cap Classique Winemaker at Boschendal, it was a combination of both. At just 11 years old, Danielle’s uncle inspired her to be a winemaker with his tales of studying winemaking and viticulture from Elsenburg. Yet, it was not until Danielle’s first harvest and tasting through some particularly memorable wines that a deeper love for winemaking blossomed:
“Reaping the reward after months of hard work is a profound moment for any winemaker. I’ve also been majorly influenced by some incredible wines I’ve had the privilege of trying, including a 2010 Château de Myrat Sauternes Grand Cru, a 2007 Costers del Siurana Priorat Miserere, a 2013 AA Badenhorst White Blend and of course, the 2008 Boschendal Jean Le Long”.
While studying viticulture and oenology at Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, Danielle had her first encounter with the camaraderie and openness that exists within the wine world. This spirit of community and willingness to share knowledge motivated her to continue along with her vocation.
Before Boschendal, Danielle was the winemaker and farm manager at a boutique winery for several years and it was during this formative time that Danielle cemented her approach to winemaking. “It may sound super cliché, but it still rings true - you need good grapes to make good wine. You can make bad wine from good grapes, but you cannot make good wine from bad grapes,” she explains. Beyond that, she believes that meticulous attention to detail and a “kick-ass palate” are cornerstones to sound winemaking.
Why We're Cool
The grapes for the Boschendal Appellation Elgin Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are from the cool Elgin region of South Africa. Elgin is one of the coolest wine growing regions in our country and only 40 minutes from Cape Town and 15 kilometres from the Indian Ocean.
80% of the land in Elgin is used for apple and pear production, but what makes the region suitable for apples and pears, makes it even better for wine. The cooling afternoon sea breezes have a major cooling effect in this region. The valley is elevated (200 -500 metres altitude), but also surrounded by mountains, so at night all the cool air moves down to the elevated valley. In summer when the south east is blowing, the clouds builds up against the mountains which results in more cloud cover and thus reducing canopy temperature.
In South Africa where we have warm and sunny weather, this is good for quality. It is this proximity to the ocean with the daily cooling sea breezes, the slightly higher altitude and a bit of extra cloud cover that make Elgin such and great area to produce premium Chardonnay and Pinot noir. This cooler grower conditions results in slower ripening and effectively a longer hanging time on the vine.
Most of our vineyards in Elgin is planted on weathered shale soils. These soils have a very good water holding capacity due to the higher clay contents and only needs supplementary irrigation in the very dry summers. The average rainfall in Elgin is around 900 mm, and most is in the winter months, but we do also get summer rain.
The Boschendal Appellation Elgin Chardonnay 2018 is from our own Highfield farm in Elgin. Our Chardonnay vineyard is trellised and was planted in 2004. There are two clones in this vineyard CY 76 and CY277 with both origins in France. The Chardonnay vineyard is planted on a cool southern slope and exposed to the regular south- eastern and southerly winds that bring cool air every afternoon.
We do partial barrel fermentation in French Oak barrels. 15% in new 300 litre barrels, 20 % in 2500 litre Foudre’s, 35% in second fill 300 litre barrels, and 30% in 3rd fill 300 litre barrels. 30% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation. We get very good minerality form this vineyard, as well as great structure and length, with complex flavours. The most pronounced flavours apart from the minerality and slight flintiness is the citrus, lemon, grapefruit and some tropical notes.
The Boschendal Appellation Elgin Pinot Noir 2016 is from the highest planted vineyard site in Elgin. This vineyard is 500 metres above sea level. We have both clones PN777 and PN115 in this vineyard. The vineyard is on top of a hill and very exposed to cooling winds. Due to the altitude and cooler breezes the yield in this vineyard is very low (5 t/ha). The vineyard is fastidiously managed to achieve classic varietal character.
The Jean Le Long 2008 grapes are from two Chardonnay vineyards. The one vineyard is on the higher slopes of the Simonsberg, and the other vineyards from a cool site in Stellenbosch very close to the Indian Ocean and very exposed to cooling see breezes.
Planeta
Sicily, Italy
About Planeta
Planeta is a producer of wine, the heritage of seventeen generations. An extensive voyage through time but also through Sicily – a true continent of wine – and present in five of its most representative regions: Menfi, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo. In each of them Planeta has carried out careful research, ranging from the adaptability of international grape varieties to indigenous vines, including some historic varieties.
The production of IGP olive oil, the development of hospitality and cultural ventures have been added to their activities in the field of viticulture; a veritable mosaic of projects devised to enliven ‘the Sicilian experience’. Ethical means of production and respect for the environment, the countryside and the culture of each area, including sustainable and lasting methods of agriculture, with wineries completely integrated within the landscape are the values which guide the company’s activities.
Representative Biography
Patricia Tóth, Winemaker
Patricia Tóth was born in Hungary where she grew up in her family home in the countryside. She received a degree in 2004 at the University of Corvinus in Budapest in Food Science specializing in wine, beer and spirits.
Having a particular love for grapes she began to work as a winemaker: in her working experience there are various known wine cellars such as Le Vigne di Zamò Friuli, Bava in Piemonte and Vylyan in Hungary.
Since 2005 she has collaborated with Planeta first responsible for the production in Noto, after in Vittoria, later managing the setup of the estate in Capo Milazzo and also actually, on the Etna. Responsible for the sustainable farming program, and part of the Business Intelligence team.
In between time Patricia produces grapes in a 4 hectare vineyard near Lake Balaton, in Hungary.
Why We're Cool
Planeta family's winemaking story started, and walks hand in hand with the Chardonnay's in Sicily. The biggest island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, Sicily has temperate climate, with contiguous natural air movement, and extremely diversified geographical conformation, which factors are already providing numerous sites for keeping on the cool side our grapes.
Ulmo and Maroccoli, amongst our first vineyards, around where we grow the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc grapes, have three plus factors to provide the freshness, being situated on, and above a lakeshore, being protected from an eventual sirocco effect from the seaside, and being situated between 250 and 500 meters asl.
Within the 35 years of experience from the first plantations we’ve managed to fine tune the vineyard cycle in a way to harvest great crispy grapes, improving every year on the canopy and cover crop management. In the last decades we are also observing a significant rise of the rain averages, which gave a shift to the weather conditions, moving towards the western direction.
Deux Roches (Collovray et Terrier)
Burgundy, France
About Deux Roches (Collovray et Terrier)
Our story is like a quartet theme: two friends who married twos sisters: Christian and Brigitte Collovray and Jean-Luc and Florence Terrier. Springing from our friendship and our common passion for wine, we have together over 30 years, forged a unique bond between Burgundy and Languedoc.
Deux Roches is located in Maconnais, in the heart of AOP Saint-Veran and Pouilly-Fuissé between the majestic rocks of Solutre and Vergisson.
Altugnac is in the foothills of the Pyrenees, where the vines grow amidst garrigue and woodland, where the days are sun-filled and the nights are cool, and the Atlantic and the Mediterranean winds meet, cooling and purifying the grapes.
Representative Biography
Romain Bourgeois, Export Sales Manager
Born and raised in Burgundy, Romain has developed his passion for the world of wine in his twenties and definitively joined the industry at aged 28. After he worked in different vineyards and cellars in Burgundy, he spent two years abroad on a French island off Newfoundland and in Oregon both selling and making wine.
Romain came back in 2018 to become brand ambassador for the Collovray & Terrier family-run wineries. Specializing in the US and Canadian markets, the I4C celebration is a great opportunity for Romain to share his passion for cool climate Chardonnay.
Why We're Cool
The Macon region is renowned for its deep and active limestone originating from the two rocks of Solutré and Vergisson both culminating at 500 meters, giving the wines their great balance of minerality and fresh crispiness.
Burgundy weather is perfect for Chardonnay with sufficient amount of rain in spring and high temperature gaps during day and night in summer season, which is perfect for the maturation of the grapes.
The winemaking process follows the Burgundy tradition with a slow and gentle pressing, a cool clarification of the juice before alcohol and malolactic fermentation in oak barrels or stainless steel tanks.
The wines age on their thin lees until the next spring and can be stirred depending on the vintage.
We never use more than 15 % of new barrels as we only want the oak to bring some structure and texture to the wines rather than oaky notes that would break our cool climate Chardonnay profile.
Quails’ Gate
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia , Canada
About Quails’ Gate
Nestled in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia, Quails’ Gate Winery has been producing award-winning wines for 30 years. Situated on the slopes of Mount Boucherie, an ancient volcano, our 125-acre (51 hectare) lakefront estate is renowned for producing premium wines and providing unsurpassed guest experiences.
We produce ultra-premium BC VQA and internationally-recognizable wines with a focus on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and our passion for making great wines is matched only by our dedication to ensuring every visit is a unique and memorable one.
Representative Biography
Tony Stewart, Proprietor & CEO
As CEO of Quails’ Gate Estate Winery, Tony directs much of his energy in creating an environment that enables Quails’ Gate to succeed as one of the world’s best wine houses. He’s passionate about ensuring that Quails’ Gate visitors receive exceptional products and services.
He and his team are confident and excited about leading the way in wine and culinary tourism.
As a leader in the industry, Tony has not only focused Quails’ Gate's vision on innovation and sustainability, but also devotes significant time to several local, industry, provincial and national associations to ensure the success and growth of the BC and Canadian wine industries.
“The success we’ve had with Chardonnay internationally has been phenomenal. When I travel around the world and have the chance to showcase our wines, they are blown away by the quality of the Chardonnay that we make here.” - Tony Stewart
Why We're Cool
Chardonnay is the Queen of their white varietals. While it is widely planted in many wine regions around the world, it takes the right terroir, viticultural and winemaking influences to capture the true essence of the varietal.
Chardonnay was first planted in the Quails’ Gate Estate vineyards in 1987. Additional planting of imported French clones occurred in 1996 and there are now more than seven clones in the Estate vineyard. Clonal diversity is very important to producing a quality Chardonnay as each one offers a new dimension to both the viticultural and winemaking process. Vine age is also becoming a key factor in producing consistent, outstanding vintages as with each passing year we see more flavours emerging that define their place of origin and the soils in which they were grown.
Maison Roche de Bellene
Burgundy, France
About Maison Roche de Bellene
Groupe Bellene is composed of the wine trading company “Maison Roche de Bellene” and the winery “Domaine de Bellene”. Their companies are both located in Beaune.
Domaine de Bellene was founded in 2005 by Nicolas Potel after the purchase of various old vines in some of the best plots of Burgundy. This winery was created with a desire to control the entire production process, from the soil cultivation to the wine sales. They produce their wines following organic farming methods and they have always sought to cultivate their vines in the respect of the soil. They aim to yield very healthy grapes of the highest quality in terms of phenology and they want their wines to express the terroir from which they come. Here at the Domaine de Bellene, they truly act on environmental, nature and terroir preservation.
Maison Roche de Bellene wine trading company offers a complete range of wines. They select and age their wines with the greatest care, preserving the unique terroir of Burgundy. The wine is racked depending on the lunar and the biodynamic calendars. Then the wine is aged in very old cellars in order to benefit from the best ageing conditions.
Their wine trading company operates in 54 countries through a wide distribution channel, dealing with more than sixty appellations from several climates and vintages. Today, Maison Roche de Bellene is famous all over the world thanks to renowned journalists, wine tasting notes and reviews. Thus, our wines are sold in the most prestigious places and in the largest cities in the world.
Representative Biography
Nicolas Potel
In 1964 Françoise and Gérard Potel arrived in Burgundy in the village of Volnay. The Potel’s started producing high-quality Burgundy wines at the winery “Domaine de la Pousse d’Or”. In the beginning, the family estate stretched from the villages of Volnay and Pommard to Santenay. This estate quickly developed and became a renowned winery in Burgundy.
Before taking over the family run business, Nicolas Potel benefited from enriching experiences all over the world. He had the opportunity to learn from the most prestigious winemakers and to get a new approach of the vineyard work (Margaret River winery, Matrot winery, Georges ROUMIER winery, Yarra Valley winery, DEHLINGER winery, Leeuwin Estate).
Once back in France, he worked as a vineyard manager and developed organic agriculture at the family estate. After his first steps as winemaker in the family Estate “le Domaine de la Pousse d’Or”, he built up his own negoce in 1996 then, in 2000, Maison Potel-Aviron in Beaujolais region. In 2005, Nicolas built up his own Estate, Domaine de Bellene, in Beaune with 24 Ha of vines cultivated following the organic method.
In 2008, after the departure from SAS Nicolas Potel company, Nicolas Potel launches his new negociant business called "Maison Roche de Bellene". He decided to focus on offering the finest wines, in limited cuvées in order to be the only "Haute Couture" negociant in Burgundy.
Nicolas Potel has also launched a range of very rare older vintages, under the name "Collection Bellenum". These wines, dating back to 1959 to 2007 are the result of a very strict selection of old vintages exceptionally released from the wine cellars of some of the most famous producers of Burgundy.
Why We're Cool
Domaine de Bellene / Roche de Bellene is based in the motherland of "Cool Chardonnay", in the heart of Burgundy and in the city centre of Beaune. Burgundy needs no justification of Cool Climate Viticulture. Nicolas Potel, the owner/winemaker is known locally and around the world for his passion, knowledge, dedication to the wines of Burgundy.
Winemaking aside, it's Nicolas' infectious Joie de Vie and love of culture, gastronomy, humanity and ultimately "the art of celebration." The old-school philosophy in the vineyard and cellar are the epitome of "Cool". All the vines are grown with the biodynamic methods with old vines, mostly 50 to 110 years old. In the cellar with Nicolas and his team, the wines are made with minimal intervention in a natural way adding rarely any outside products to the wines; no acid, no cultured yeast, nutrients, enzymes, sugar.
If you get a chance to meet Nicolas Potel over the weekend and try his wines, you will understand exactly what it means to be "Cool".
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