I’ve been at many wineries during harvest time but I’ve never experienced so much fun and dedication amongst the staff as at this small exclusive winery in our home town Napier, South Africa.
Harvest fun
Tag: winery
Grape Harvest
With the grape harvest in South Africa about to begin I thought it was a good idea to ‘dive’ into my archive and re-process some harvest pictures of last year. Photo shooting at Springfontein Winery in Stanford, South Africa. Original RAW-images reprocessed with Topaz (Photoshop plug-in) in ‘opalotype’
The Ruins
Just wonder if Lady Ann Bernard stayed there in 1798.
For the outsiders: Lady ann Bernard was the traveling wife of the British governor. Thanks to her diary we know how people were living in the rural part of the colony.
The Ruins are part of the Springfontein Winery Estate here in Stanford.
The Wall Painter
Roger Williams from Cape Town is well known around the globe with many international accolades. In South Africa he is just ‘known’ …….. here and there.
Last weekend I witnessed Roger and his assistant Nick here in the village engaged in a wall painting. Not finished yet (see last picture) but you can see the finished wall from October onwards when tasting wine in the new tasting room in a winery/restaurant (name is mentioned in the last image). As you can see the ghost comes out of the bottle.
He's a big boy
Hi, I am Vino and I am the one who welcomes you for for a superb wine tasting experience here in Stanford at Springfontein Winery. Ain’t I a beauty of a great Dane?
He’s a big boy
Hi, I am Vino and I am the one who welcomes you for for a superb wine tasting experience here in Stanford at Springfontein Winery. Ain’t I a beauty of a great Dane?
Wine Cellar
There are some great wine cellars in our village; not known to general public but the South Africa ‘connaisseur’ knows them. Ever tasted a Jackson Pinotage, a Vaalvlei Sauvignon Blanc or a Springfontein Chenin Blanc? Springfontein Winery (where these pictures are taken) is also one of the few cellars in South Africa that produces Verdot.
Modern 'slavery'
They call it a ‘slave wall’ but I do not know the exact meaning. Is it a wall build by slaves or a wall to keep the slaves in? Or both?
A winery nearby, situated on an estate with the remains of century (centuries?) old buildings decided to do something about the entrance. Plenty of limestone rocks around and with the heritage in mind what better idea is there than build a ‘slave wall’?
Hard work for the own staff and a contractor but the end result is getting shape. In contrast with the days of old they now had the assistance of machinery (digger loader) to transport the rocks but still manual work was needed to put the heavy rocks in the right place. The wall on the right side of the entrance is nicely in-line with with the natural rockery. On the other (village) side the winery should take out some of the blue gum trees for better visability from the road but that’s just a personal opinion. And who am I?
The own horticulturist already started to plant native water wise plants.
Hopefully Springfontein Winery also changes the sign; by the looks of it it’s open for wine tasting day and night….. When I came in there was nobody to see ….
P.S. the second picture (HDR-toning) is dedicated to the best Chef of Durban. Besides good (spicy) food Andrew Harvard likes to photograph dishes, people eating and some hot spots in and around Durban. And you can all follow this on his blog!
Modern ‘slavery’
They call it a ‘slave wall’ but I do not know the exact meaning. Is it a wall build by slaves or a wall to keep the slaves in? Or both?
A winery nearby, situated on an estate with the remains of century (centuries?) old buildings decided to do something about the entrance. Plenty of limestone rocks around and with the heritage in mind what better idea is there than build a ‘slave wall’?
Hard work for the own staff and a contractor but the end result is getting shape. In contrast with the days of old they now had the assistance of machinery (digger loader) to transport the rocks but still manual work was needed to put the heavy rocks in the right place. The wall on the right side of the entrance is nicely in-line with with the natural rockery. On the other (village) side the winery should take out some of the blue gum trees for better visability from the road but that’s just a personal opinion. And who am I?
The own horticulturist already started to plant native water wise plants.
Hopefully Springfontein Winery also changes the sign; by the looks of it it’s open for wine tasting day and night….. When I came in there was nobody to see ….
P.S. the second picture (HDR-toning) is dedicated to the best Chef of Durban. Besides good (spicy) food Andrew Harvard likes to photograph dishes, people eating and some hot spots in and around Durban. And you can all follow this on his blog!
Impression of a day in the vineyard
Last week I submitted 3 posts about the grape harvest, the grape processing and, the most interesting part, the wine tasting. All pictures were shot at Springfontein Winery in our village Stanford, South Africa. The vineyards are located in a unique setting between lagoon and ocean. The terroir is sandy with lime scales (if we understood it correctly) and it’s an excellent underground for the South African grape varieties Pinotage and Chenin Blanc.
Anyway I made an impression (imaginary) of a day in the vineyard. Thanks to wonderful owners, management and other staff. I (and my wife Yvonne) really enjoyed your great hospitality!!!
Herman van Bon Photography 