Arco
decided to become a winemaker at the tender age of nine while touring the Cape
Winelands with his folks. “It was especially the cellar tours, and the way the
winemakers explained the magic process that I found irresistible,” he recalls.
So, fresh out of high school, he joined Kaapzicht Estate, where his
apprenticeship soon confirmed that he was indeed cut out to be a winemaker.
While gaining valuable practical experience, he also enrolled for wine courses
such as Wine Management at the Stellenbosch Business School.
To
celebrate his milestone, Arco’s small batch range of wines ‘The Curator’s
Collection’ is officially launched today. The range is available at the Glen
Carlou Visitor Centre at the Tasting Room or Restaurant as well as to its Wine
Club Members.
The range
is evolving depending for example on different varieties and what Arco finds
interesting or something he has an opportunity to explore. “It is a great way
for me to experiment whether it is with different winemaking techniques or
access to an interesting parcel of fruit” says Arco.
Some of the
wines are a production of a little over 500 bottles, the exception being The
Curator’s Collection Chenin Blanc which consists of 1500 bottles made from 30
year old bush vine Swartland Chenin Blanc and matured in old French oak
barrels.
The current
wines available in the range are:
2013 The
Curator’s Collection Chenin Blanc
2010 the
Curator’s Collection Malbec
2011 The
Curators Collection Tannat
Later in
the year, a Viognier and a Cabernet Franc will be released. Pricing ranges from
R98 for the Chenin Blanc to R175 for the Tannat.
For more
information on the range, contact Georgina Prout georgie@glencarlou.co.za or
083 556 9806 or Arco Laarman arco@glencarlou.co.za
or 083 546 1146