Reyneke Wines with Angela Jordaan – Tasting Tickets

May 7 @ 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm Biodynamic Winemaking. The future lies right at the beginning. There’s a lot to be said for the way wine used to be made. When the Reyneke farm first began as ‘Uitzicht’ in 1863, there were no chemicals or technological advancements. Just the land and nature. Uitzicht (which is the Dutch for ‘View’) is perched overlooking Stellenbosch and False Bay. The best land is planted with vines and the remainder complements the vineyards with pasture, compost-making and pockets of wilderness. It’s the kind of balance that’s far more important than ensuring the spreadsheets all balance out. And it’s the true, time-honoured tradition of winemaking. A biodynamic farm is often seen as an ‘individuality’. It needs to be self-sustainable and self-supporting. This is important for two reasons; firstly, to reduce carbon footprint; and secondly, to be less affected by market forces. If the farm can produce its own fertilizer and compost, this will mean it’s less dependent on trucking-in fertilizer in clouds of diesel exhausts. If the farm is self sufficient, their own cow manure ‘costs’ the same every day, irrespective of the price of oil. This understanding is simply the tip of a harmonious iceberg. Their philosophy of “waste not, want not” runs deep into sustainability. Whatever they use, they carefully think about re-using, re-purposing or recycling. This holistic approach to agriculture requires that they step away from monoculture. Although the vineyards are the mainstay of the Reyneke farm, they exist in a synergy with the vegetable gardens, the animal husbandry being practiced here, and, of course, the people. Biodynamic agriculture comes from a time when there was a spiritual understanding of life in general and farming in particular. We try to never lose sight of this, putting people first, naming our cows instead of numbering them, and even studying the weeds (rather than just yanking them out) to learn why they’re there. Join us as we explore and learn the delicate nature of winemaking at Reyneke with Angela Jordaan and taste through the latest wines to come from this special place Seats are limited so booking is essential!