Much expected of Mont Rochelle with Branson deal drawing more attention to top wines and cellars of Franschhoek

THE MONT ROCHELLE hotel is nice enough and the Chardonnay can be pretty good, but the estate doesn’t exactly rate among the cream of Franschhoek’s wine properties Allée Bleue, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Chamonix, Dieu Donné, GlenWood, La Motte, Môreson, Rickety Bridge, Solms-Delta… Not when it comes to best in the bottle. However, that British tycoon Sir Richard Branson views the latest addition to his eclectic collection of Virgin Limited Edition outfits as something that “will be a ‘must visit’ winelands experience in South Africa” speaks to his ambitious plans for the mountain vineyard estate which is due to close for refurbishment until August at least.


Mont Rochelle joins a portfolio that includes an island in the Caribbean, a roof-top restaurant in London, retreats in the Swiss Alps and the hills of Morocco, a safari camp in Kenya and a cliff-side lodge in a game reserve outside the Kruger National Park. The Franschhoek hotel and wine farm was sold to Virgin by the family of Miko Rwayitare, the late Rwandan telecom mogul who bought the wineland property from advertising man Graham de Villiers in 2001. And family member Albert Gatare is certain that Rwayitare’s vision of creating “a small slice of heaven on earth” will now be realised.

What surely appealed to Branson is the hilltop setting with mountain backdrop, over 30 hectares of vines and 22 bedrooms. Time will tell just how swish the address turns out and whether Branson’s aspirations extend to building a leading wine brand.

TOP WINES FROM FRANSCHHOEK

 

CHARDONNAY: Boschendal, Chamonix, GlenWood, La Motte, Mont Rochelle
CHENIN BLANCAllée Bleue, Bellingham, Boschendal
SAUVIGNON BLANC: Boschendal, Chamonix, Franschhoek Cellar, Rickety Bridge
SEMILLON: Landau du Val, Stony Brook
VIOGNIER: Bellingham
WHITE BLENDAllée Bleue, Solms-Delta
SPARKLING: Boschendal
CABERNET SAUVIGNON: Boekenhoutskloof, Dieu Donné, Grande Provence, La Motte, Rickety Bridge

MERLOTDieu Donné, La Petite Ferme
PINOT NOIR: Chamonix
PINOTAGEAllée Bleue, Bellingham, Chamonix, Môreson
SHIRAZ: Bellingham, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Dieu Donné, La Motte, Rickety Bridge
RED BLENDAllée Bleue, Anthonij Rupert, Bellingham, Boekenhoutskloof, Boschendal, Chamonix, Grande Provence, La Motte, Môreson
DESSERT: Boekenhoutskloof
 
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