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Meet the Winemaker
WS Visagie grew up on a wine farm on the West Coast of South Africa and after completion of his studies in viticulture and oenology extended his studies to the USA, France and Germany.
About Us
First of all, wine is made for conversations. For us, wine is an expression of art, designed to be enjoyed and remembered.
Our History
1808 - The Napoleonic Wars were uniting Europe - French troops occupied Rome and Madrid - Russia had conquered Finland and the dreaded Spanish Inquisition had finally been abolished. Beethoven presented to the world his Fifth and Sixth Symphonies and America banned the importation of slaves from Africa.
Farm History
Blaauwklippen was founded in 1682 by Gerrit Jansz Visser, but it wasn’t until 1688 that the first vineyards were planted in the fertile soil of the estate. Jump forward to 1899, when famed businessman and politician Cecil John Rhodes became the owner of Blaauwklippen, but only for one day!
Background
Van Loveren is situated 160 kilometers from Cape Town, in the Breede River Valley between Robertson and Bonnievale. Banks of scarlet cannas along the roadside distinctly mark the property, which has been in the Retief family for over three generations.
Cellar and Vineyards
The farm is situated in a narrow valley in the Kleinriver Mountains, southernmost mountain range in Africa.
Terroir - The Valley and its People
Seamed by two mountain ranges, the Breedekloof valley is nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Klein Karoo.
Fairtrade
Fairtrade was introduced to ensure a better deal for growers and small-scale producers in developing countries. These people have often found that they are unable to obtain a fair price for their products because of their remoteness or size of operation.
History
The uniWines Group was formed in 2008 through the vision of a few dedicated directors.
Our Vineyards
Boasting some of the highest planted vines in the Cape Winelands, Chamonix has around 50 hectares under vineyard.