South Africa’s amphibian wine route stretches from Cape Point to Tulbagh – fun or serious, fortified or au naturel
FROGS AND TOADS, creatures belonging to the class of tailless amphibians collectively referred to as Anura, an order of which there are countless families… Who would have thought that these guys had anything to do with wine! In America, however, oenophiles are familiar with the Frog’s Leap Winery in California, also home to Frolicking Frog, Toad Hollow and Toasted Toad wines, whereas in the US state of Kentucky you’ll find a winery called Purple Toad. Down Under there’s a range of Frog Rock Wines (Adelaide), and where else but in Australia would you find Bonking Frog wines. No kidding!
The Languedoc region of France is where Arrogant Frog wines come from, and there’s no shortage of amphibian labels in Afrique du Sud: Anura Vineyards in the foothills of the Simonsberg, Paarl, Leopard Frog Vineyards in Stellenbosch, the Paddagang range of wines from the Tulbagh Winery and Splattered Toad from Cape Point Vineyards.
The Bouma family’s Anura Vineyards – complete with Lillypad Restaurant and Froggit Foods, frog sculptures and pond – is home to one of the Top 100 SA wine cellars where 90% of the wines produced sell for under R100 a bottle. Good Merlot, Pinotage, Cape Blend, Chardonnay (Limited Release), Sauvignon Blanc (Reserve), and these days a good Cap Classique bubbly too – unmistakeably Granny Smith apple in character. Plus, the second-tier Frog Hill wines are great value – especially the Cab-Merlot blend at R35 a bottle, less if you buy a pack of three.
Leopard Frog is the premium wine brand of David John Bate, a Canadian of English and Swiss descent whose collection of goodies extends to Belgian-style chocolate as well as super-premium cigars that he promotes together by way of decadent pairings. He has an office in Sandton, Johannesburg, and rents cellar space in the Helderberg, Stellenbosch. The Bordeaux-style and Rhone-style red blends under the ‘Tantra’ and ‘Kiss & Tell’ labels respectively are among the best reds in a range that also features a Pinotage-led Cape Blend called ‘Tribe’ and the ‘Tao’ blend revolving around Zinfandel – all at R100 a bottle if bought by the case direct from the proprietor.
Paddagang (Afrikaans for ‘frog corridor’) is a range of fortified wines and a brandy from the Tulbagh Winery – simple pleasures and reasonably priced, with fun labels that would fit right in between the covers of a good story book: Paddapoot (Hanepoot) at R50 per bottle, Brulpadda (port) at R63pb, a Paddagang Medium Cream Sherry at R67pb and Paddapoleon brandy from Chenin Blanc and Colombar at R120pb.
Whereas Splattered Toad is both a good bang for your buck from Cape Point Vineyards and a fund-raiser in aid of the endangered Western Leopard Toads, many of which don’t survive crossing the road. Easy-drinking at R48 per bottle for the Sauvignon Blanc and R54pb for the Shiraz. Perhaps best enjoyed at a CPV picnic or community market on the slopes overlooking Noordhoek beach.
