I recently visited Babylonstoren; it was my first time! No judgement, please! When I mentioned to most people that I had never been before, they were completely dumbfounded. I knew I had to get there!
Babylonstoren
Well, I can now say with pride – I have made the pilgrimage and was blown away! Those of you who have been will understand my excitement. From the time you set foot on the farm, you are mesmerised by the most exquisite gardens, the serene beauty of your surroundings, not to forget the fabulous restaurants and guest house – all on one property! As I said to Monique, our host for the day, it is more like a village than a farm.
The Farm
Babylonstoren has become quite the popular destination for visitors to Cape Town and is well known around the world. Amongst the oldest Cape Dutch farms, it has one of the best preserved traditional farmyards. The 3,5ha fruit and vegetable garden are reminiscent of the Gardens of Babylon. The hotel, restaurant and spa have also become quite the attraction, for local and international visitors alike.
At its inception some 322 years ago, the farm’s main occupation was to supply fresh goods to ships passing the Cape between Europe and the East,” says wine sales and marketing manager Anelle van Tonder. “There have been vineyards on the farm since then, but it was only four years ago – upon the completion of our new winery – that wine was first produced under the Babylonstoren name.
The name of the farm, Babylonstoren, hails from the small hill on the farm, which reminded early farmer Pieter van der Bijl, about the Bible story of the Tower of Babel.
The Wine
My visit to Babylonstoren was more specifically to experience their wines. The historic Cape farm in the Drakenstein Valley, near Paarl, recently upgraded their wine tasting and cellar tour offering. The tour is ideal for novices and knowledgeable oenophiles alike.
The walking tour, which we had the opportunity to experience, is one-hour long and gives visitors an insight into the farm’s history, as well as its wine growing heritage.
It includes a visit to the new olive oil production plant, winery and barrel cellar, as well as an olive oil and wine tasting along the way.
We even got to sample grapes directly from the vine!
You will see various examples of vine trellising; encounter the farm’s water management system; and, get a front-row view of the production of Babylonstoren wines.
The cellar tour concludes at the Wine Shed tasting room, where you’ll taste the final array in Babylonstoren’s portfolio.
Babel Restaurant
After our tour, we enjoyed a light lunch, at the farm’s rather famous restaurant Babel. I had heard so many good things about Babel, and it lived up to all my expectations.
The salads at Babel are more of a culinary experience than a meal. They are colour coded{Green, yellow & red}, making them a visual work of art. They are created with the freshest, raw and in some cases rather unusual ingredients.
During lunch, we had the opportunity to taste a few more of the Babylonstern wines, which we had not yet experienced. I am not a Chardonnay lover, but the Babylonstoren 2012 Chardonnay is delicious, very smooth on the tongue, with a delicate Vanilla finish. As you know red wines are more my thing, and both the Nebukadnesar and the 2013 Shiraz are beautifully intense, robust wines. I loved the Shiraz so much I bought a bottle to take home with me!
Next, we were treated to an array of the desserts on offer at Babel, which was all heavenly and again quite unusual in their flavour combinations. The one which stood out the most for me was the Proscuitto & Salted Caramel Doughnut with Gorgonzola Ice Cream – pure perfection!
The Winery
Babylonstoren is over 400ha in extent, with 62ha under vine. There are 13 grape varieties, at varying altitudes and in a multitude of terroirs. Babylonstoren is ideally situated in one of South Africa’s prime winemaking areas.
My wine making tries to capture the essence of Babylonstoren in a bottle,” says Coetzee. “We love honesty, simplicity, diversity and timelessness.
The four farm buildings, which house the winery and barrel cellar were designed by architect Gerard de Villiers, they combine heritage with modernity. Several displays along the tour deliberately link the farm’s earliest residents and families who’ve tilled its soils over the centuries, to those who now take it into the future.
Babylonstoren wines are made, in a state-of-the-art winery, to showcase the soils and climate where its grapes grow. Its label expresses the essence of Babylonstoren: the pipe represents the farm; the flower, the garden; and, the bird, nature.
The Wine Selection
The Babylonstoren flagship range comprises a Chardonnay and a red blend named Nebukadnesar. Nebuchadnezzar was known as a colourful king of Babylonia and credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Bordeaux blend, made from five different cultivars, is considered a celebration of Babylonstoren and its garden.
The 2012 Babylonstoren Chardonnay
The 2012 Chardonnay is the second vintage of the wine. The latest incarnation has emerged closer to a Burgundian style and displays butterscotch and vanilla tones – the result of maturation in French oak barrels. Balanced with fresh citrus flavours and a mineral finish.The
Nebukadnesar
The Nebukadnesar is the youngest addition, and the 2012 vintage is its first release. It was designed as a blend to celebrate the diversity of Babylonstoren and its garden and brings together five Bordeaux cultivars, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the dominating role players. All wines were made separately, matured in new French oak barrels for 24 months.
The 2014 Babylonstoren Chenin Blanc
This Chenin Blanc is a light, crisp, dry and unwooded wine with notes of tropical fruit. It has a refreshing nature and presents flavours of guava and melon on the palate.
The 2014 Babylonstoren Mourvedre Rosé
The 2014 Rosé, made with an unusual choice of varietal for a rosé, is salmon pink colour. On the palate, there’s a combination of red berries and petal flavours.
The 2014 Babylonstoren Viognier
The 2014 Viognier is a rich and balanced wine that showcases layers of dried peach and apricot aromas with delicate spicy notes on the nose. A small percentage of the wine was matured in French oak barrels for eight months, imparting creaminess to the wine.
The 2013 Babylonstoren Babel Red Blend
The Babel Red Blend is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend of Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz and Petit Verdot. The wines were made separately and aged in first and second-fill French oak barrels. The result is a fusion of red berry flavours and chocolate, rounded off with a hint of spice.
The 2013 Babylonstoren Shiraz
The 2013 Shiraz perfectly displays its terroir. Flavours on the palate include red cherry fruit, spice and flower blossoms. The Shiraz has a lingering finish and great ageing potential.
Wine Club
Babylonstoren offers wine enthusiasts the opportunity of joining their exclusive Wine Club. Wine Club Members can enjoy complimentary entrance to the farm, special discount on wines and accommodation at the farm hotel, free delivery nationwide, as well as invitations to exclusive launches, social events and tastings. As a member, you can also enjoy a free wine tasting, with a group of up to 10 people, which includes the cellar tour.
Wine Tasting
Wineshed opens for tastings seven days a week from 08h30 – 17h00 (last entry at 16h00) Cellar tour daily at 12h00. Bookings essential. For reservations or to sign up as a member of the Babylonstoren Wine Club, call 021 863 3852 or via email.
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Everything looks amazing
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