De Grendel, D’Aria, Diemersdal, Phizante Kraal, Bloemendal and Altydgedacht form part of a group of wineries sharing the exceptional terroir of the Durbanville region – an area that received acclaim as the 2011 SA Terroir Top Wine Area. This specific terroir, which comprises 11 members, features a maritime climate where seasonal mists from the coast and cool breezes from the south east temper potentially high summer temperatures. The lengthened ripening period brings forth elegant wines, true to their varieties. New Wines: Phizante Kraal has just released the valley’s first Chenin Blanc, the Anna de Koning, at a cellar price of R79. This Chenin Blanc 2011 boasts concentrated, but elegant fruit, citrus and honeyed almond aromas. It was aged in French oak for nine months and blended three weeks prior to being bottled. The wine was appropriately named after the daughter of a slave working in the Jan van Riebeeck household, where she caught the eye of the esteemed VOC official, Olof Bergh. After getting married in 1676 they farmed on Phizante Kraal until his death in 1724. D’Aria released the second vintage of two of their red wines – wines that will charm the palates and pockets of the consumer. The chic new cellar on the 300-year-old farm has just released their 2009 Shiraz/Viognier and Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blends for less than R70 a bottle. Although the Shiraz/Viognier was mainly aged in French oak, the short period of exposure to American oak adds an enjoyable character of white pepper and vanilla. The Terra D’Aria 1698 D’Urbanville Cabernet-Merlot 2009 is a Bordeaux blend with rich dark plum aromas and elegant tannins. Diemersdal, where six generations of Louw’s have been making excellent wines since 1885, has just released the Grenache 2010 – a medium bodied wine with complex aromas of plums and cherries, as well as a hint of smoky spices. The grapes for this wine were hand-picked at optimal ripeness and the wine was aged in 225l French oak for 13 months. Altydgedacht has been owned by the Parker family since the mid 1800’s and the current viticulture and winemaking team still utilizes the terroir to make exceptional wines. Their Semillon Noble Late Harvest 2011 is now available. The nose of this dessert wine is characterised by the aromas of dried apricots, honey and a hint of spices. Velvety sweet flavours linger on the palate, in addition to optimal acidity that provides structure. The exceptionally warm weather conditions of the past year, balanced by the supplementary irrigation and the proximity of the sea, resulted in De Grendel’s wines from the 2011 vintage boasting intense fruity flavours. Their fledgling wine, the Viognier 2011, flamboyantly pleases the palate with delicious apricot, dried peach and pineapple flavours, while the wood aged half of the wine brings about a buttery quality that finishes on a fresh dry note. Sauvignon.com, another brand owned by the Louw family of Diemersdal, aims to create awareness of the increasing threat to nature. The recently released Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 bears a spicy nose, with a red cherry and chocolate complexity. The palate reminds of black berries and spices, while the delicate tannins provide a lingering finish. Bloemendal released a Chardonnay, Natural Sweet and a Cape Blend in 2011. The limited number of Chardonnay bottles available at R90, display a hint of French oak that strengthens the intense fruit aromas. The quality is evident in the nose and surprises with citrus and pear flavours, and a lingering butter caramel on the palate. The Bloemendal Natural Sweet (R120 per 375 ml bottle) portrays the versatility of Durbanville’s speciality cultivar, namely Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes were pressed at a later stage, allowing for more flavour and aging potential. The wine pleases with aromas of peaches, apricots and citrus on the nose, while the palate reminds one of honeysuckle. The Bloemendal Cape Blend starts off with deep red velvet, yet earthy notes, and ends with robust mulberry aromas. This delicate blend of Pinotage, Malbec and Shiraz gives this wine its typical Cape Blend character. The wine retails at R45 per bottle. For more information about the Durbanville Wine Valley, visit www.durbanvillewine.co.za.