SIMONSIG ESTATE: SPARKLING HARVEST KICKS OFF

Posted on 14. Jan, 2011 by BottlePlatePillow in 4) General News, Simonsig

Simonsig Estate is one of the first wine estates in the Stellenbosch region to welcome the 2011 harvest. But this year this pioneering landmark has so much more reason to sparkle as it is an extra special grape harvest for its iconic Kaapse Vonkel, South Africa’s first Méthode Cap Classique, which celebrates its 40^th birthday this year.

Kaapse Vonkel 2006 Double Gold

Simonsig cellarmaster Johan Malan is mighty pleased with the quality of the grapes this year, especially after the smaller and challenging 2010 harvest.

“The 2011 harvest started a few days later than last year but we expect the yield to be bigger and better this year. We are excited about our new Pinot Noir vineyards which will deliver their first grapes this year and promise to be of exceptional quality and great value to our Kaapse Vonkel,” shares Johan.

The grapes which make up the Kaapse Vonkel are the classic Champagne varietals Pinot Noir (49%), Chardonnay (45%) and Pinot Meunier (6%). In addition to being the country’s first sparkling wine made according to the French tradition of secondary bottle fermentation, Kaapse Vonkel also became the first Cap Classique to use all three of the traditional grape varieties used in Champagne when Pinot Meunier was introduced in 1997.

Bubbly lovers can look forward to a sparkling 2011 when Simonsig Estate will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of this legendary Cap Classique which was introduced by the late Frans Malan in 1971, all year long and  share various exuberant experiences with fellow Cap Classique enthusiasts .

Source: GC Communications

Contact details: Simonsig

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Tags: Frans Malan, Harvest 2011, Kaapse Vonkel, MCC, Simon Back