Welcome to Hout Bay Vineyards

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HOUT BAY VINEYARDS

A Family Affair

Long ago, in 2001, Peter and Cathy began excavations for their dream house at the top of Grotto Road, Hout Bay. It was hard work and Skoorsteenkop seemed reluctant to give up its immense boulders, which had been strewn across the slopes for thousands of years. They planted their first vines in September of 2003, aiming to produce their favourite beverage… bubbly!

Our wines

About

Sadly, just before the first harvest, tragedy struck

Just as the first grapes were about to be harvested, herbicide was used to spray the vines instead of pesticide. The once luxuriant vineyard was gradually reduced to a field of dead, grey vegetation. Three years of backbreaking work lay decaying at their feet. With steely resolve, Peter and Cathy ripped out all the vines and planted new ones. With no harvest of their own expected for some time, they brought in grapes in 2004. The wine was made and laid down to ‘bottle-ferment and rest’ for three years.

Our wines

About

The setback delayed the first harvest, and as such, the first grapes were harvested from their own vines in January 2008. The maiden vintage was available in the summer of 2011.

The official opening of Hout Bay Vineyards was on 1 December 2007. The occasion marked the release of their 2004 bubbly. Hout Bay Vineyards also formed alliances with other vineyards in the valley and their Sauvignon Blanc, made from grapes harvested at “Vineyard on Victoria” was released on the same day. May 2008 marked the first winter open day which saw the release of their first Reds, a Cabernet Sauvignon, and a Bordeaux style red blend.

In 2012, Cathy and Peter completed their cellar extensions and now have extra storage capacity for bottled wine. The naturally cooled underground cellar means their wine will always be kept and aged in perfect conditions until it reaches the consumer.

Our wines

About

The Bubbly is kept for a minimum of three years on the lees and the reds, once out of the barrels and in the bottle, will be left to lie in the cellar and still until it is perfect to drink!

Harvest time is a family affair at Hout Bay Vineyards with the kids, relatives, and friends joining the festivities. Anyone interested may come along, help, and have fun!

The wines from Hout Bay Vineyards are primarily available on open days but Peter and Cathy also accommodate those who have run low on stock at other times. They welcome visits, tastings and sales, by appointment only.

Our wines

Petrus by Petrus Roeloffze

Description and composition

Shiraz 87% | Mourvedre 4% | Grenache Noir 9%

In the cellar:

The grapes were destemmed, crushed, and fermented in open top bins with punch downs and pump overs performed three times daily. The grapes were then gently pressed into barrels.  Each cultivar was aged respectively in 225, 300 and 500 litres new and second fill, French Oak Barrels for 24 months. Before bottling, Peter will do a tasting and blending – highlighting the qualities and sensory features of each varietal, creating a single, complete, and complex wine.

Maturation:

Each cultivar is matured separately for 24 months in French oak and French Acacia barrels.  This is a combination of new and second fill 225, 300 and 500 litre barrels.

Tasting Notes:

This is a rich, smooth, Shiraz dominant Rhone Style Blend displaying dark fruit flavours and tobacco on the nose.  The wine is smooth and delectable with firm tannins, creating great texture and structure.

ALC: 14.29% | RS: 2.0 | PH: 3.56 | TA: 5.4 | VA: 0.85

Vintage and price

Vintage
2018

Cellar Door
N/A

Per Case
0

Enquire

Shiraz

Description and composition

Shiraz 100%

In the cellar:

The grapes were destemmed, crushed, and fermented in open top bins with punch downs performed three times daily. The grapes were then gently pressed into barrels.

Maturation:

24 months in French Oak Barrels.  This is a combination of new and second fill, 225, 300 and 500 litre barrels.

Tasting Notes:

This wine is deep plum in colour with delicious, spiced fruit flavours and a punchy peppery aftertaste.

This product is vegan friendly

ALC: 14.1% | RS: 1.8 | PH: 3.51 | TA: 6.0

Vintage and price

Vintage
2020

Cellar Door
200

Per Case
1200

Enquire

Sauvignon Blanc

Description and composition

In the cellar:

The grapes are hand harvested at optimum ripeness, hand sorted, destemmed and pressed.

The Juice was kept cool for settling and yeast added for a slow fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was left in the tank for 6 months before bottling.

Maturation:

3000 l stainless steel tank

Tasting notes

Loyal to the typical character of Sauvignon Blanc, with its freshly vibrant and vivacious juiciness, this wine has aromas of asparagus, cut grass and green peppers with tropical fruit flavours. Every sip will refresh and invigorate you with its subtle minerality. It is a perfect accompaniment to salads, fresh fish and white meat.

This product is vegan friendly

ALC: 13.5% | RS: 1.9 | PH: 3.65 | TA: 5.4

Vintage and price

Vintage
2022

Cellar Door
130

Per Case
780

Enquire

Blush 2022

Description and composition

Chardonnay 79% | Pinot Noir 12% | Pinot Meunier 8%

In the cellar:

This wine is made from the second pressing of grapes used to make our Klasiek by Catharine MCC.  Grapes are picked at a balling of 18, hand sorted and very gently, whole bunch pressed.  After extracting just 50% of the juice for the MCC, an extra press will yield  15 – 20% which will go through a cool, slow fermentation ensuring we keep all the fruit flavours of the grapes.

Tasting notes

This wine is fresh and fruity with fresh strawberry notes.  It is perfect for an aperitif, picnics with friends and light meals.

This product is vegan friendly 

ALC: 10.32% | RS: 1.0 | PH: 3.9 | TA: 5.2 | VA: 0.49

Vintage and price

Vintage
2022

Cellar Door
120

Per Case
720

Enquire

Methode Cap Classique

Description and composition

Chardonnay 64% | Pinot Noir 24% | Pinot Meunier 8%

In the cellar:

Grapes are picked at a balling of 18, hand sorted and very gently, whole bunch pressed.  After extracting just 50% of the juice, it will be cooled and settled in stainless steel tanks and then slow fermented.  When the wine is ready for bottling, we will make up a mixture of yeast and sugar for bottle fermentation.  The signature bubbles result from a secondary fermentation process in the bottle.  The yeast consumes the sugar, yielding additional CO2 that becomes trapped, creating carbonation.  The bottles are sealed with a crown cap for 36 months during which time the wine will take on the subtle brioche flavours of the yeast, and the CO2 will become more integrated, creating fine bubbles.  The bubbly will then be disgorged and corked with a natural cork – zero-dosage.

Maturation:

36 months on the Leese

Tasting notes

This bone-dry Cap Classique has vibrant and zesty flavours with a crisp, lingering finish. The citrus flavours and fresh brioche nose make it perfect as an aperitif or accompaniment to any meal or desert.

ALC: 12.2% | RS: 1.0 | PH: 3.9 | TA: 3.31

Vintage and price

Vintage
2020

Cellar Door
220

Per Case
1.320

Enquire

Merlot

Description and composition

Merlot: 100%

In the cellar:

The grapes were destemmed, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks with punch downs performed three times daily. The grapes were then gently pressed into barrels.

Fermentation:

Aged in 225, 300 and 500 new and second fill, French Oak Barrels for up to 24 months.

Tasting Notes:

This wine is gentle and well rounded. It is complex and versatile and the perfect accompaniment to red and white meat, pasta dishes, and even chocolate. The rich and ripe fruit flavours are well balanced by a fresh savoury finish.

This product is vegan friendly

ALC: 13.7% | RS: 1.9 | PH: 3.38 | TA: 7.8 | VA: 0.85

Vintage and price

Vintage
2013

Cellar Door
130

Per Case
780

Enquire

Black Swan Cape Vintage

Description and composition

Every few years, Peter and Cathy will make a ‘Port’ style wine.

The traditional Portuguese Port varietals will be carefully sourced for ageing in their mountainside cellar in Hout Bay. It will always be in very old Oak barrels that will allow for micro-oxidation but not impart with any ‘wood’ characteristics – thus retaining all the delicious fruitiness of the grapes.

The sporadic, very limited release of this delicious wine happens after 5, 10, 15 and eventually 20 years.

ALC: 19% | RS: 98.8 | PH: 3.62 | TA: 5.27 | VA: 0.85

Vintage and price

Vintage
2013

Cellar Door
R450

Per Case

Enquire

News

A Harvest of Gratitude

Please join us at Hout Bay Vineyards for our first wine launch of the year -  a very significant one celebrating a special friendship between winemaker Peter Roeloffze and artist...

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Summer Open Weekend

We have missed several open weekends at Hout Bay Vineyards and can’t wait to welcome you all back for delicious wines and MCC.

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Winter Newsletter

The 2022 harvest is done and dusted! No two vintages are ever the same and every harvest has its own stories to tell. This year was no different.

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Winter Open Weekend

From January 3 to March 28, this year’s harvest required three months of unwavering attentiveness and constant hope for better weather.

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