De Grendel Wines

De Grendel’s History
The Graaff family have played a defining role in the South African political, social and business landscape for over three generations. From his humble origins as a young farm boy, the vision and foresight of First Baronet Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff established the foundations of a family legacy that is carried forward by his great-grandson Fourth Baronet Sir De Villiers Graaff.
The Winemaker
Charles Hopkins has been at De Grendel for more than 10 years. He was lured to De Grendel when Sir David Graaff offered him the oppor-tunity to not only head up winemaking at the new estate, but also to design and build his own cellar. Charles is one of South Africa’s most highly regarded winemakers, a member of the Cape Winemakers Guild and for-mer Chairman of the South African Wine Show Association.
Winemaking at De Grendel is a careful balance between science and art
The meticulous care of the vineyards allows the grapes to express the en-vironment in which they are grown and their distinctive varietal character. Careful harvesting and gentle handling in the cellar, combined with the winemaker’s passionate practice of their craft, carry the wines throughout the journey from fruit into wine.
Cellar & Vistas
The De Grendel cellar sits majestically elevated on the fynbos-covered slopes of the Tygerberg with a postcard-perfect panorama of Table Mountain and the city of Cape Town. Although modern in design, it references the colonial architecture of the main house, with its deep shaded stoep and big arched windows to take in the views, sea breezes and the views of the dam below. A ramp leads you from the tasting room into the belly of the building, through different layers and levels and to the glass-roomed restaurant on the floor below where the breath-taking Table Mountain vistas open up.
Biodiversity
The farm is situated within a pristine natural vegetation area known as ‘Renosterveld’ and the conservation thereof is a passion of the family. Home to rare and endangered floral species, this delicate ecosystem has been preserved for future generations. De Grendel is a proud member of the WWF’s Biodiversity and Wine Initiative, a pioneering partnership between the country’s wine industry and conservation sector.
Tasting Room
The views of Table Mountain and Cape Town from the De Grendel Tasting Lounge and Verandah are possibly the most spectacular of any wine farm in the Cape. Look out over the vineyards to the magnificent view of Table Mountain, Cape Town city and the Atlantic Ocean, or chill in the relaxed lounge atmosphere.
Restaurant
De Grendel Restaurant rests on a ridge overlooking Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. Executive Chef, Ian Bergh, uses in-season and locally sourced fresh produce which reflects the unique culinary heritage of the Cape. His menu is created with complementary De Grendel wines in mind.