Buitenverwachting
Buitenverwachting, meaning “Beyond Expectation” (although in America it is called “ Bite me for watching”) dates back to 1773 and certainly lives up to its name. The concept of environmentally friendly farming has been introduced, which is not only softer on nature, but also gives a holistic approach to the worker, nature and pollution. It has been described in the John Platter guide as “probably the classiest small range of wines available in South Africa” and the fierce individualism of winemaker Hermann Kirschbaum is certainly evident.
History
From 1773 this perfect wine producing property has had no less then 16 owners, several of whom were plagued with insolvency. Despite the unsettled background the wine farm flourished from the 90,000 vines planted by 1825, under the ownership of Ryk Arnoldus Cloete, borther of the famous Hendrik of Constantia.
From 1866 the fortunes of Buitenverwachting were inextricably linked to those of the Louw and Lategan families, one of the most colourful characters being Oom Danie Lategan whose trademark was the Camilla he picked for his button-hole each morning. It was his daughter Olivia Lategan, who was born to forge the links between the Louws and the Lategans. Born at Biutenverwachting she returned as mistress of the house when she married George Louw.
In 1981 the Mueller family had ownership of the farm and it was at this time that comprehensive studies were made with regard to vineyard location, and extensive replanting was initiated with the most selected of cultivars – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot for the reds and Rhine Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay for the whites.
The maiden harvest of 100 tonnes in 1985 was the first Buitenverwachting had seen for 30 years and exceeded all expectations although relatively small in overall terms mainly due to the strict control exercised to prevent the new vines from overbearing in their first year of production.
The white wines were the first to be produced in the new cellar, designed in an ultra modern style with the most up to date wine making equipment yet with the traditional high gables, white walls and lofty thatch roof so typical of the Cape. This was completed in 1984 and features a refrigerated barrel maturation area which has the capacity of 3000 small French oak barrels, hewn from Allier and Nevers.
Buitenverwac
hting Klein Constantia Road, Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa
Tel: +27 21 794 5190
Fax: +27 21 794 1351
Web: http://www.buitenverwachting.co.za/
