Huguenot heritage at the foot of the Groot Drakenstein
L'Ormarins is located in the Franschhoek Valley of the Western Cape, at the foot of the Groot Drakenstein Mountains. The French Huguenot Jean Roi brought the name with him. He came from Lourmarin in Provence, named the land allocated to him after his hometown, and planted vines immediately. A cellar was built on the estate in 1799. In the 19th century, it served as a communal cellar for the families of the district. Each family received a large barrel with their coat of arms carved into it.
In 1969, Anton Rupert bought the estate and handed it over to his son Anthonij. Anthonij had studied in Geisenheim and built a cellar at L'Ormarins in the late 1980s. The wines soon won awards. After his death in a car accident in 2001, his brother Johann Rupert took over the estate. He dedicated it to his brother, which is why the winery is called Anthonij Rupert Wyne today. L'Ormarins is the flagship of this portfolio. The Franschhoek Motor Museum and the Drakenstein Stud are also located on the grounds.
Granite, slate, and manual labor for the sparkling wine
The Cap Classique wines from L'Ormarins are created according to the traditional bottle fermentation method. The grapes come from several areas of the Western Cape. These include Franschhoek, Darling, Robertson, and Elandskloof. The vines grow on granite and slate soils with lime and alluvial soil. This gives the wines tight acidity and a distinct minerality. For the Rosé, the harvest is done by hand.
Vinification takes place in the Terra del Capo winery on the Anthonij Rupert estate. It works according to the gravity principle and has a mechanical flywheel. The estate operates a total of four cellars. In addition to sparkling wine, the site also produces Chenin Blanc from 56-year-old bush vines. They were replanted from the Paardeberg to the estate's north-facing granite sites.
Cap Classique with yeast notes: the assortment
The centerpiece is the Brut Classique made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In the glass, it shows a golden yellow color and fine, persistent perlage. The nose brings citrus, lime, and green apple, plus yellow apple and white pear. Biscuit and sourdough from the yeast aging give it a creamy texture. The finish is fresh and crisp. You can serve it as an aperitif or with oysters, crayfish, and lobster.
The Brut Classique Rosé consists mainly of Pinot Noir with Chardonnay. It tastes of raspberry, strawberry, and lemon, with lively acidity and fine perlage. The Cap Classique line also includes the Private Cuvée. Beyond sparkling wine, the estate produces natural brandy from the traditional Armagnac alambic, eau de vie, honey, and olive oil.
