Klein Roosboom – Message in a bottle
In honour of women’s month (and spring! we are indulging you in the stories written by Estate owner, Karin de Villiers, honouring the women in her family by replacing typical back-of-bottle-labels with truly moving letters, full of love and sincerity.
After visiting this beautiful and well-though-out family winery for the fourth time, I questioned whether I was being near-sighted in having a favourite wine tasting experience when there are so many unbelievable wine farms in the Western Cape to choose from. Many hold positions of being amongst the best wines in the world, but Klein Roosboom had captured my imagination and held my heart captive!
When entering for the first time a few years ago, the opening sentences of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien came to mind.
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat. It was a hobbit-hole. And that means comfort.”
At the heart of the 300-year-old Klein Roosboom Estate, we found owner and winemaker Karin de Villiers – a creative matriarch, wife, mother and author of the tributes written on the bottle-back-labels, thereby preserving lineage and enriching history.
Patiently keeping the torch of family ties burning, Karin and her children, sons Nicol and Johan, and daughter Marne, along with trusted members of staff, run the family winery. There is a very-present sense of dedication to the ones that came before them. It was these family stories that drew me in.
Joyful whispers from a bygone era
The eccentric wine tasting caves, or in my mind, hobbit holes, and the creative genius behind them is not lost on todays visitors. The caves were once fermentation tanks for wine. Karin remembers, “My late husband could not believe that I wanted to put our guests in old concrete wine tanks, but I thought it would be a very unique experience”
You can still find shiny tartaric acid deposits and wine level lines on the walls that is truly fascinating. It gives you a feeling of being pushed back in time – a warm, almost ancient energy, and I for one, had to refrain from putting my hand on the walls in the hopes of hearing. some joyful or even sad whispers of a past filled with history.
(Like standing on a public beach while zoning-out as you press a shell against your ear), the caves give you just enough privacy to enjoy your chosen company for the day, without being disconnected from the soft buzz of voices and laughter coming from the neighbouring caves.
Agricultural conditions for growing their grapes
The light see breeze, average annual rainfall of 400 to 650mm and the rich mixed soil, guarantees the quality of these wines.
The south facing slopes are perfectly suited to Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The vineyards are firmly rooted in a hutton, oak leaf and clovelly soil.
- Hutton series of soilsconsists of deep, poorlydrained soils that form in alluvium from mixed sources typically found on floodplains, stream terraces and depressions.
- Oakleaf soil is known to be excellent agricultural soil. It cultivates easily, holds water and absorbs nutrients allowing optimal crop production.
- Clovelly series of soils are mostly poorly drained and slowly permeable soils found on the valley slopes of a site and are seen as good agricultural soils.
Message in a bottle
Warning! Get your hankie ready because the messages on these bottles will tug at the strings of your heart. The emotion these stories evoke is as unexpected as the unique quality of the content of the bottle.
Karin named and paired the wines after the people she loves. “I always try to go a little off the beaten track and do things a little different than others would. I was so bored with the same old back labels in the industry and sat down with a glass of Jéan Sauvignon Blanc and focussed on what I would like our consumers and guests to read on our back labels. The words spontaneously flowed from my heart, through the pen, onto the paper. That was the beginning of my tribute to my loved ones.”
Dear Dairy Chardonnay
Dear Diary.Oh, to capture the spirit of the earth in a glass, drink the light of the sun, savour the pale moonlight in my mouth, taste the tingle of the twinkle of a star on my tongue…. Swirl ocean waves upon a waterfall of passion in whispering winds. I want the morning dew to mist up and tears of joy to run down my glass. Drink into the dusk ’till dreamy darkness descends…. I’m going to give it a go. ‘Till tomorrow
Marné Brut MCC
My dearest daughter, Marne. Perfectly nurtured pinot noir & Chardonnay grapes were picked on your birthday for our first MCC in 2007. It’s only fitting that this MCC is named after you. Your vibrant personality is as sparkling as the contents of this bottle. Just as the Marné River runs through the bubbly producing area of France, your joie de vivre flows through our family, enriching our lives in so many special ways. Love Mams
Janet Shiraz (named after my mother-in-law)
Liewe ma Janet. Om die matriarch van die de Villiers se 80ste lewensjaar the herdenk, het ek hierdie kaalvoet wyn vir ma gemaak. N eerlike wyn met die fun geure van Leypoldt se viooltjies, die kompleksiteid van Opperman se ouma in kaneel & iemand ja iemand in anys. N wyn met sterk ruggraat, n aardsheid en tog n fluweelsagtheid net soos ma……gesondheid! Met liefde Karin
Marianne Rose (named after my mother)
Liefste Mams. A memorable wine to celebrate all the memories that once were yours, but now are gone. A formidable, beautiful, giving, caring, fun woman, I miss you so much, though you’re still here…. Ons keer ons na die LIG, vir positiewe energie en inspirasie en sien die lewe in al sy rooskleurige skakerings. Let us lift our glasses and do like Edith Piaf. Simply say: la Vie en Rose. Al my liefde Kalla
(Be sure to read the beautiful messages to her husband and sons at www.kleinroosboom.co.za – Jean Sauvignon Blanc / Johan Cabernet Sauvignon / Nicol Merlot).
Karin’s son Nicol (the viticulturist), daughter Marné (brand ambassador) and Johan (Operational manager) describe their mother as a “Mother Theresa” someone that loves deeply, the true heart and soul of their family. She allows her children to make their own mistakes. She walks in faith and is always honest and supportive. As a leader she is creative, consistent, authentic and a unique out of the box thinker. Her commitment knows no boundaries and everywhere she goes, she sows peace, love and laughter.
Klein Roosboom is situated in the heart of Durbanville Wine Valley, just 20km from Cape Town. It is home to multi-award-winning wines and the recent Amorim Cap Classique Challenge 2020 – Brut Blend.
Besides the eccentric wine tasting experience, this boutique winery has many other activities to choose from: enjoy a meal at Jean Deli; organize a family picnic; take a stroll on one of the 3 walking trails; get twelve of your friends together and take the party-bike-tour through the vineyards.
From my heart to yours, I believe you will find this boutique winery experience worth your while!