Local Garagiste producers also heading to The Wine Show

Tuesday, 15 April, 2014
The Wine Show
Garagiste is an exciting movement in South African winemaking - here is everything you need to know about it before you head to the show

This year, The Wine Show will give South Africans the chance to sample some of the best local wines from around the country. Arguably, the most exciting of these are the number of local Garagiste wines that will also be there. So much more than simply a boutique wine producer, Tanja Beutler was one of the first Garagiste winemakers in the country. Having originally started Topaz Wine in her garage in Somerset West, with her business partner, Clive Torr, she eventually dug up her entire garden to plant vines as well. Now, as Head of the Garagiste Association of South Africa, she explains what makes Garagiste wines so special.

What exactly is a Garagiste producer? A Garagiste is someone who has a passion for wine and, as a hobby, makes his or her own wine from home, literally in the garage, under the carport, in the spare room, in the garden shed or even in the bath!

How are Garagiste wines different to ‘normal’ wines? Garagistes make wine because it is their passion and not necessarily their job – although for many the passion grabs them and it becomes full time; because of this passion, the focus and commitment is there. Garagistes also make tiny quantities. The maximum volume to qualify as a garagiste is 40 barrels – the amount that fits in a double garage. Making garagiste wine is also very hands-on: a lot of equipment used comes straight out of the kitchen!

Briefly describe the ‘Garagiste style’ of winemaking. Garagiste style wines are made hands-on mostly with loads of good friends who are prepared to get dirty and have some fun! You can buy garagiste winemaking equipment if you have the cash or you can improvise – we have used feet for crushing, shade cloth for pressing, sieves for straining, buckets for moving the wine and funnels for filling barrels. The real style of this kind of winemaking is guts, determination, loads of friends, lots of beer (it takes lots of beer to make good wine!) and most importantly to have FUN!

Where do you get the grapes from? We have been working with the same growers for 10 years or more to ensure consistency, mostly from Elgin and now from Paarl.

Tell us a bit about the wines that you produce. Topaz Wine Company offers two brands. Topaz consists of an Elgin Viognier, an Elgin Pinot Noir, an Elgin Shiraz and a Paarl Shiraz/Mourvedre, all 2012 vintages. I love the fruit we get from Elgin – due to the cool climate and slow ripening, I find the flavour profiles are elegant, sophisticated and true to the grape variety. Custom Crush, the pocket-friendly offering from Topaz, consists of a Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, made from grapes sourced from Wellington. We only produce two to three barrels of each of our Topaz varietals and just slightly more of the Custom Crush. Due to the small quantities, you are guaranteed great quality. We nurture each and every one of our barrels with the utmost care and attention.

You obviously love wine – but why the decision to take the next step and become a producer too? Looking back, there is no better feeling than when you open that first bottle of wine that you ever produced, watching the sun set over False Bay. Just thinking about it 14 years later, makes me feel overwhelmed! It is one of those unique wow moments in life that you cannot explain unless you have done it – a bucket list moment! It keeps me at it…

Where do you get inspiration from for the flavours? I was privileged enough to taste some of the greatest wines of the world and for me terroir is everything – in other words where the grapes grow. This in turn gives a wine a sense of place or a sense of belonging... a signature. As garagistes, we can really make signature wines that represent the place that the grapes come from.

Have any of your wines won awards? We did bend the rules in 2012 and made a Shiraz/Mourvedre from just outside of Stellenbosch. It definitely shows riper fruit but also has a certain finesse that is true to these vineyards. This wine won the Garagiste Trophy at the Michelangelo Awards last year!

Where can people buy your wines? Topaz is available from us and the Custom Crush is available through Frogitt and Vonkel. Visit www.topazwineco.com or call 082 056 8825 or 021 855 4275.

Garagiste producers who will be participating in the 2014 Wine Show include Topaz Wine Company, Mont Destin, Mitre’s Edge Vineyards and Russo Wines... just to name a few.

To learn more about your favourite tipple, or simply to taste your way through the Winelands, visit The Wine Show. It’s all happening from 5-7 June 2014 at Durban’s Suncoast Casino and from 31 July to 2 August at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in PE. Tickets are available in advance through Computicket (R90) or at the door (R100) and include a crystal tasting glass, all tastings, access to the Wine Extra Theatre and a map to help you navigate the show. For more information on The Wine Show visit www.wineshow.co.za or call 021 888 8800.