VEENWOUDEN PRIVATE CELLAR

Situated on the northern side of Paarl with spectacular views over the Klein Drakenstein Mountains, lies Veenwouden, a boutique winery which was established in 1988. The first Van der Walt to land at the Cape in 1727 hailed from Veenwouden, a tiny hamlet in Friesland, the Netherlands, hence the name. Situated on the northern side of Paarl with spectacular views over the Klein Drakenstein Mountains, lies Veenwouden, a boutique winery which was established in 1988.

The first Van der Walt to land at the Cape in 1727 hailed from Veenwouden, a tiny hamlet in Friesland, the Netherlands, hence the name. The cellar was offically opened on 26th December 1992 with a song recital by its owner, Deon van der Walt. On that occasion he cited a quote by Hugh Johnson, which is perhaps especially applicable to Veenwouden: "ART is a grand word to use about the making of a drink. It is justified, though, because exceptional wines can seem to transcend mere sensual enjoyment; to demand to be appreciated on a higher plane of awareness - for which ART is the only appropriate word." The Boutique cellar (with a capacity of 100 tons) is loosely based on the functionality of the smaller Pomerol/St.Emilion Chateaux, combining the architectual charms of Tuscany, Provence, and the Cape. Dark cypresses adorn its ochre-coloured walls, while the top landing/entrance hall, which doubles as the tasting area, is beautifully decorated with handpainted frescos. The cellar design also incorporates a small auditorium, with excellent acoustics, for chamber concerts and recitals.

Veenwouden is wholly contained within a valley, and the vineyards lie on a gentle slope, facing northeast, towards the Berg River. From the Atlantic Ocean, some 60 kilometers away, cool breezes penetrate the valley to influence the local climate in an almost Mediterranean way. Good winter rainfalls of between 600-650 mm per annum, paired with comparatively long summers, with average annual temperatures generally ranging between 20-23 degrees Celsius, ensure excellent growth. The cool rich ferrous clay subsoil of Veenwouden is quite unique for this area, and fortuitously happens to be superb soil for especially the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape. This fact, combined with the excellent micro climate found on the farm, provides an environment in which the grapes can flourish, ensuring the highest possible quality.

www.veenwouden.com