Durbanville’s Altydgedacht Wine Estate surging to the fore among South Africa’s top dry Gewürztraminer producers

“PERFUMED NOSE, with good expression of spice, rose petals, Turkish delight and lychees… Floral flavours and a mélange of fruits… Lingering finish… Enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to spicy foods, curries and sushi” – Altydgedacht‘s tasting notes for their Gewürztraminer 2014, winner of a Double Gold medal at this year’s Six Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney, Australia.
Altydgedacht slave bells

SLAVE BELLS. Distinctive emblem on Altydgedacht wine labels

There are very few Gewürztraminer wines produced in South Africa, even fewer made in a dry style and fewer still that have received good reviews on a consistent basis of late, namely Altydgedacht of Durbanville, Paul Cluver of Elgin and Neethlingshof of Stellenbosch, with Altydgedacht shining brightest in winning Gold and Double Gold at the Veritas Awards, the Six Nations and the Michelangelo Awards with several vintages over the past few years.

Altydgedacht bell

The ship’s bell at Altydgedacht is still rung on a daily basis

Good with oily and smoked fish as well as soft cheeses in addition to Asian dishes, Gewürz is considered by many to be the most perfumed of the aromatic varieties – also including Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Viognier – and some of South Africa’s best examples are very accessible price wise, e.g. R65 for the Altydgedacht, R55 for the Neethlingshof, R80 for the Paul Cluver. See here for all of the top ratings achieved by SA Gewürztraminer producers in 2014 and 2013, together with the prices of their wines.

In addition to Gewürztraminer, another of the aromatics farmed at Altydgedacht is Riesling, also made in a dry style. And interesting that the latest vintage has also fetched high praise, notably at the Trophy Wine Show!

 

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