Wine News
Festive Season Edition
In this Edition: Touring with Cath...
What's in the bottle? Catherines festive season wine choices
Harvest 2004

Hempies du Toit and Annandale Wine Estate

Hempies du Toit is a well-known name in wine and rugby circles. So when a wine colleague of mine invited me to meet him I could hardly resist – a chance to talk wine and rugby!

Hempies and his family have owned Annandale since 1996 and the original farm dates back to 1688.

I was expecting to do a quick tasting, take photo’s and leave all in under one hour. However, not only did I get to sample delicious wine and chat to my host, I got to meet his lovely wife, Naomi and three of their four children.

Nina, Naomi, Hempies, Gerhard and Lisa
Naomi loves painting and cooking and stresses the importance of doing things for the pleasure it brings. Eldest daughter, Louanne, works as a business analyst for Distell while only son Gerhard has just completed his wine-making degree at Stellenbosch University. He will be going to the Southern Rhone area in June to gain experience in the French cellars before settling back at Annandale.
 

Lisa has just completed her first year at Stellenbosch University, studying teaching, whilst Nina has completed Grade 8 at Rhenish School for Girls. Both Lisa and Nina are talented musicians, with Lisa having joined a band recently.

Hempies learnt his wine-making skills from his father, Piet, and his focus is on making traditional, Old World style red wines. Harvesting is done by hand, usually mid-February.

Wines apart, Hempies enjoys food and loves preparing a fish braai for family and friends. A few of his favourites include:

  • Bobotie accompanied by a spicy Shiraz
  • Roast leg of Lamb accompanied by a Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Waterblommetjie bredie & white rice accompanied by Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Elf fish braai (prepared by Hempies); Sauvignon Blanc to match
  • On hot summer days simply chill your red wine to enjoy best.


"Propping up the front row"
Hempies, Catherine (Wanderer Wines) and Gerhard
Annandale Wines

Annandale Estate is one of few estates that hold their wine back, releasing it 5-6 yrs after vintage.
Wines available from the estate include

Cavalier 1999:
blend of Shiraz (70%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). Well- integrated smoky Shiraz aromas, supported by Cabernet Sauvignon blackberry fruit.
Price: R65

Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Full bodied velvety wine with good ageing potential. Barrel matured for 24 months in French oak.
Price: R70

Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Well-balanced with powerful flavours. 1/3 in new wood and 2/3 in second fill. Powerful spicy nose and full-bodied on the palate.
Price: R75

Shiraz 2001
First-ever vintage made on the estate. 30 months in second French oak. Only 500 cases produced – liquid gold! Traditional spicy character and very smooth. Drinking well now, but can lie for next 10 years!
Price: R150

Annandale Reserve Port 2001
Abundance of ripe plum fruit with layered undertones of smoky, peppery characteristics. Made from Shiraz grapes and matured in old barrels. Known as Cape Vintage Port (CVP).
Price: R130
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