This year has been jam-packed with fabulous discoveries, one of my favourites being Jason’s Hill Private Cellar. Good friends have always told us how amazing Jason’s Hill is, and that we should visit. When the opportunity arose to visit, naturally we had to go – there was wine tasting involved who could resist!
Jason’s Hill Private Cellar
Jason’s Hill Private Cellar is what I like to call “off the beaten track”. It is not isolated but rather removed from the maddening crowd, which can be splendid for the soul! You will find it nestled, at the foot of the rather imposing Slanghoek Mountains, in the heart of the Boland. It is approximately a one and a half hour drive from Cape Town. In my opinion, it is a trip well worth making. The drive through the Breede River Valley is breathtaking, and one of the most beautiful ones you will probably ever experience!
The Slanghoek Valley, is ideal for growing quality grapes, with its fertile soil and Mediterranean climate, with cool, rainy winters and warm, dry summers. These conditions are perfect for producing award-winning wines. Add to this recipe the devotion and passion of winemaker Ivy Du Toit, one of South Africa’s pioneering woman winemakers and you have formula destined for success! Thanks to Ivy, her family are keeping alive the tradition of vine growing and wine making, started by their ancestors in 1844.
As we had not visited the farm before, we were unsure what to expect, but the view above says it all! It was a grey, overcast day when we visited, but this made the views even more dramatic and spectacular to behold!
Ivy Du Toit
For Ivy, winemaking has always been in her blood. From a young age, she spent her time curiously investigating the activities at a nearby cellar. After much time spent travelling abroad, and harvest seasons in America, France, and Italy, Ivy decided to try her hand at producing wine herself.
In an old garage on the farm, in 2001, with grapes from her dad’s produce and barrels bought from her savings, Ivy made her first Shiraz. Everything from the picking, destemming, as well as the bottling, was done by hand, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Through sheer determination and hard work, Ivy realised her dream of becoming a wine maker. We all know that hard work pays off and it was no different for Ivy! In 2003, she was named Diner’s Club Young Winemaker of the Year, and Landbou Weekblad Woman Winemaker of the Year, in 2004.
We had the fortunate opportunity, of spending a pleasant morning with Ivy, at Jason’s Hill. It was great to hear her inspirational story, and get the inside scoop on Jason’s Hill and the multi-award winning wines which they produce. Not to forget to taste ALL the wine – we were at a wine farm after all!
The Wine
The passion that Ivy has for wine and winemaking is evident in the fantastic wine she produces! It is her belief that to generate good quality wines; one must use quality grapes. For this reason, Jason’s Hill only produces estate wines, giving them complete control of the grapes used in their award winning wines.
Jason’s Hill produces a fantastic selection of estate wines, but I will not bore you will paragraphs of tasting notes, instead I will highlight a few of our favourites.
Sauvignon Blanc
As you will have realised by now, I am not a massive white wine fan. Grant, however, is, which always gives us a balanced result when it comes to tasting a selection of varietals. The Jason’s Hill Sauvignon Blanc is a medium bodied white wine. Tropical fruit flavours are further enhanced by subtle minerality and a well-balanced acidity. The wine feels fresh and lively on the palate, with a crisp finish. It will pair very well with fresh summer salads and equally well with seafood dishes.
Chenin Blanc
Chenin Blanc is a varietal, which is gaining increasing popularity in the industry. Many of us have been scarred by the awful straw-like, over-wooded Chenin of yesteryear! Modern Chenin Blanc, however, has incredible complexity and depth of flavour. The Jason’s Hill Chenin has great complexity, with well-balanced fruit and acidity on the palate. The wine hints at sweetness on the nose but delivers a well rounded crisp finish, which I could drink all day, and I am not a white wine drinker! The Chenin Blanc will age well, up to 5 years, only improving its complexity and smooth richness. Again this wine will pair very well with seafood, but my favourite is with a full-flavoured hard cheese, like Boerenkaas – so delicious!
Shiraz
Yes, I am a big Shiraz fan, and this wine is no exception, as it delivers in bucket loads. It is a big wine with a dark plum-red colour and delicious berry flavours. I particularly love the smooth, velvety texture and beautiful Smokey finish, which lingers on your palate. The Shiraz is matured in small 1st, 2nd & 3rd fill French & American Oak Barrels for 14 months. If you are looking for a good food pairing for the Shiraz, then I would recommend either a delicious pepper fillet or a mildly spicy curry. It is also a great cheese wine. The Shiraz has great ageing potential, but I am equally happy to drink it now.
Izak Reserve 2013 Bordeaux Blend
The Izak Reserve 2013 Bordeaux Blend was love at first sip! Izak is a Bordeaux Blend, made up of five varietals being Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. It is an intense wine, full of rich berry flavour and delivers an excellent full-mouth feel. As well as being intense in flavour, it is also amazingly complex and velvety smooth. It will age well for up to 15 years, but it is doubtful it will last that long in my home! Izak is also a wine I would pair with red meat or especially well with a hearty lamb stew. I am making my mouth water.
Closing Note
A closing note on the wines we tasted – they impressed me no end, both from a quality and taste perspective, as well as their affordability. To give you some idea of prices, their most expensive wine which is the Izak, retails for R211{R190 cellar door}, which by industry standards, in my opinion, is an excellent price, for an incredible wine! It proves how fortunate we are to live in South Africa, which produces great wine, at extremely reasonable prices!
Wine Tasting
I highly recommend you take a trip out to Jason’s Hill Private Cellar and try their wines for yourself; you will not be disappointed. Take the kids and make a day of it or even better book accommodation in the area, and stay overnight. You can also enjoy a lovely picnic or cheese platter while wine tasting. Options are available at the tasting room, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 17:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00 and is closed on Sundays.
In Closing
What a wonderful experience, enhanced by the delight of discovering yet another fantastic hidden gem. If you appreciate great wine, in a beautiful setting then you need to add Jason’s Hill to your list of must-visit places!
Contact Details
Contact Jason’s Hill Private Cellar via Telephone 023 3443 256 or email [email protected]. Location GPS 33°39’52.28″S 19°13’42.38″E. The Restaurant is open Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 15:00.
Disclaimer: We enjoyed wine tasting as guests of Jason’s Hill Private Cellar. It is not a sponsored or paid post. Please note that all opinions, content and images are the property of ©Inspired Living and Fiona Rossiter, unless otherwise stated. To see more, read the full PR & Disclosure Policy below.
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