Louisvale Wine Farm
It is said that of all the vineyards in South Africa, Louisvale must have one of the most beautiful settings. The vineyard and winery are situated in the Devon Valley just outside Stellenbosch. Visitors drive through the vineyard to reach the main house and tasting centre.
The elegant century old Sir Herbert Baker designed homestead is situated beneath an old towering oak tree. All around are stunning views of the majestic Simonsberg and Stellenbosch mountains. Considered to be tiny by world standards, Louisvale nevertheless stands proud among new world winemakers. The wines have garnered a plethora of awards in less than 20 years and today the wines are enjoyed on four continents. If you are travelling internationally, you will find their wines featured on the airline’s wine lists.
The 200ha that constitutes the Devon Valley has for centuries been planted to fruit trees. Currently, however the Valley has a total of 750ha of vines; 12 of these hectares are the treasured Louisvale vines. Their first vines were planted in 1985 and in 1988 the property was bought by “Businessmen refugees from Johannesburg” Hans Froehling and Leon Stemmet. Hans and Leon became two flamboyant ambassadors for their range of Chardonnays and which now have a very loyal following in the South African market. In 1994 it was chosen by Oz Clark of Britain’s Wine Magazine as one of only three Chardonnays from the Cape among “100 of The World’s Best Chardonnays”.
In 1993 when winemaker of the year Marinus Bredell took over from Neil Ellis they decided to include red wines into the range. Hence the birth of the 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot blend. Since 1994 the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes have been sourced from the neighbouring property and this has ensured that the red wines have retained their Louisvale character. The 2011 harvest will include grapes from a sister farm in Wellington, which they feel will bring an exciting new dimension to their wine collection.
