This morning, our 'small' bottling unit (GAI 10 head filler) is on its way to one of the smallest wine estates near Stellenbosch. Neighbouring the famous Neethlinghshof and Overgaauw Wine Estates, Lovane Boutique Wine Estate was bought 5 years ago by Bordeaux Blend lover Hennie Visser and his wife Theresa.
With 2.5 Hectare vineyards consisting of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, Lovane's flagship is a Bordeaux style blend called Isikhati (meaning "Time" in Zulu), and the 2015 vintage was awarded Gold Medal from Veritas. The other wines produced by Lovane are a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Petit Verdot, a Shiraz, a Pinotage, a Rose "Blanc de Noir" named Theresa, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a "Cape Vintage" Port. After a career as a Chief Financial Officer in Johannesburg, Hennie worked hard to become a "self made winemaker". And the result is astounding, also thanks to the help and advise of 2 close friends well known in the industry. From the vineyards to the cellar and almost all parts of the farm, Hennie seems to be everywhere. And this must be the key of Lovane's success. A family farm and guest house getting bigger as I am writing these lines, thanks to the hard work of its hands-on owners and employees... About the Guest House... When Theresa and Hennie bought the farm 5 years ago, it consisted of 9 bedrooms. Now they have 16 beautiful bedrooms and conference facilities to accommodate seminars, team buidings and small events such as weddings and anniversaries (up to 40 guests). But let's get back to our bottling production. The bottles are there, screw capsules as well, our unit as been sterilized and set up, production must start! Let's fill these bottles with an aromatic Sauvignon Blanc to start with, followed by a subtle Cabernet Sauvignon... Thank you Hennie and Theresa for trusting Estate Mobile Bottling and Labelling, and we will see you next week for the labelling run! And thank you to your amazing team of workers that made things so easy and pleasant! Keep going! For more information on that lovely Boutique Wine Estate, please visit www.lovane.co.za Sources : Interview of Hennie Visser on the 16/05/2019, www.wine.co.za, Platter's Wine Guide 2018, www.lovane.co.za
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The AuthorI landed in Cape Town in July 2013 and entered the South African Wine industry shortly after that. Raised in the South of France by a Bordeaux blend lover, it must have been written in the stars that I would one day or the other take part into that fascinating world (although my part is tiny...) Archives |