Introducing Vine to Wine at One&Only Cape Town
Guests of One&Only Cape Town will be able to soon discover the Cape Winelands, home to some of the most renowned wine estates in the world, unlike before as of January 2022. The fruitful vineyards are home to Simonsig Wine Estate, one of the longest standing wine farms in South Africa, and, guided by Luvo Ntezo, Head Sommelier of One&Only Cape Town. Guests will be invited by the revered wine estate to participate in an interactive, behind-the-scenes harvest day experience.
Simonsig, named after its dramatic views of the Simonsig Mountain, has been a family run estate for over 300 years and are a founding member of the Stellenbosch wine route. They were the very first estate to produce a Methode Cap Classique (MCC) in South Africa in 1971. Cap Classique is a term used to describe any sparkling wine made in the Cape which uses the traditional French method, a centuries’ old artisanal process which begins with the harvest and progresses through an assemblage, two stages of fermentation, concluding with an aging process. Simonsig wines, who produce a range of wines from classic South African varieties, continue to enjoy local and international acclaim today, with their cellarmaster and descendant of the Malan family who run the vineyard, Johan Malan, recently voted Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year in 2020.
The experience, available only to guests of One&Only Cape Town, will take place during harvest season, from January to March, and will give keen wine aficionados the opportunity to experience the process involved in producing the ‘champagne of South Africa’ - known as Cap Classique. As the suppliers of One&Only Cape Town’s very own Cap Classique label, the Simonsig Wine Estate experience makes for a immersive day out, picking grapes, experimenting in viniculture, and enjoying a leisurely picnic lunch on the estate’s picturesque grounds. Simonsig boasts lush outdoor spaces, ideal for younger guests to stretch their legs after they have experienced their own grape juice tasting.
This uniquely experiential day in the winelands includes luxury transportation, a delicious winelands lunch as well as a winemaker certificate to remember the experience by. Upon their return, guests can also continue their wine journey and discover The Wine Studio, a newly launched space which houses a sampling of the Resort’s impressive wine offering. Here, guests can take part in memorable wine experiences such as Sip & Savour, a curated wine tasting experience, or a Wine Blending experience.