Simonsig Wine Estate

Simonsig Wine Estate is synonymous with the history of the South African wine industry, the Stellenbosch wine region, and the Malan family. Frans Malan produced the first MCC traditional bottle-fermented style bottle of sparkling Kaapse Vonkel. Famous for its beautiful vineyards rolling out from the foot of the Simonsberg mountains, Stellenbosch is the Cape’s prime wine country. Simsonsig was the first in the area to experiment with Méthode Cap Classique, releasing its first bottle in 1971 which led the way. In 1987, the vineyard converted to a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend.

Boschendal

Boschendal is one of the oldest wine estates in South Africa and is located between Franschhoek and Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. The farm's title deeds are dated 1685. The estate's first owner, Jean le Long, was one of the party of 200 French Huguenot refugees who were fleeing religious persecution in Europe. He was granted land in the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company in 1688.

In 1887 the estate was bought by Cecil Rhodes and formed part of his commercial fruit business, Rhodes Fruit Farms which has become today's Boschendal Farm.

The grapes for MCC’s come from several appellations like Robertson, Stellenbosch, Walker Bay, Constantia, and Elgin and winemakers source the grapes from where they grow best. Blending grapes from diverse appellations contributes to the complexity and balance to MCC. Producers can make MCC from Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinotage, among other varieties, though Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are dominant.

The grapes are hand picked picked early in the season for freshness and acidity and therefore don’t develop the phenolic ripeness of Champagne. The grapes are gently whole bunch pressed, using only the first pressings for sparkling wines. Each grape variety and vineyard parcel is aged and fermented separately.

History

South Africa has produced wine since the 17th century when vines were brought over by the Dutch. Around 1685 a large number of French Huguenot settlers arrived in the Cape after leaving their country as a result of the Edict of Fontainebleau, which revoked the Edict of Nantes (1598) that had granted religious toleration to Protestants. Most of these French people settled in the Cape Colony, and were absorbed into the Afrikaner culture. Simon van der Stel is credited with founding the town of Stellenbosch back in 1679 and the first vines were planted in 1690.

In 1971 Frans Malan made South Africa’s first Méthode Champenoise sparkling wine at Simonsig using Chenin Blanc grapes.African Champagne-style sparkling wine, the number of producers has grown to over 250.

Terroir

The Stellenbosch district is the most important wine regions after Constantia, and is responsible for around 14% of the country's annual wine production. White wine production centres on Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc which are often blended together. The western part of Stellenbosch include a Chenin Blanc plantings in areas rich in light, sandy soils. Stellenbosch is composed of mostly hilly terrain and a Mediterranean climate influenced by False Bay with warm and dry growing seasons.

Vineyard soil types range from decomposed granite on the hillside near the mountains to sandy, alluvial loam in the valleys near the rivers. The region does not have the deep chalk soils of Champagne and the south of England except Robertson which is especially favored for Chardonnay. The influence of the sea in Elgin and Hermanus contribute high acid and minerality and are especially favorable for Pinot Noir.

The sweet wine of Constantia located south of Cape Town was once the most prized in the world. The area receives cool oceanic influences on each side that contributes to excellent acidity and a long, slow ripening period in the summer. Winters are often moderate and mild but wet. The soil is composed primarily of Table Mountain sandstone with high concentrations of granite.The area is particularly good to grow Sauvignon Blanc.

Cape Town Wine Adventures

Multi day tours allow us to explore South African wine culture and local highlights deeper. Visit the best regional makers of premium MCC sparkling wines plus vineyards which offer fantastic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir still wines. We'll plan pairing lunches and dinners in the vineyards so you can compare a wide range of local varietals like red Pinotage. If you love Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc we can include a visits en route to those top winemakers. Start or end your tour at an amazing lodge from where you can discover the famous marine life in the south or travel north for a few days on a photographic safari and stay on a private reserve.

Multi Region Journeys