Wine tourism grows in Mossel Bay

Jakkalsvlei Private Cellar, a family-owned vineyard near the village of Herbertsdale in Mossel Bay, is gearing up to launch Pinotage – Coffee Edition later this month.

“It’s an oak-matured Pinotage with dark berry fruit and roasted coffee bean flavours, and a smokey, spicy palate, and with smooth tannins that ensure a fruit-driven, lingering aftertaste,” explains owner and winemaker Jantjie Jonker.

He describes it as a non-traditional Pinotage that is made to be enjoyed while young and paired with red meat dishes, barbecues, and strong cheeses.

“People might not think of Mossel Bay as a grape growing area, but the Jonkers have been farming them here since 1972, and Jantjie bottled the first wine under his Jakkalsvlei label in 2008,” says Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm. “With an intimate tasting room and a fantastically welcoming attitude, the farm has now become an important tourism attraction for the region.”

Although the vineyards are known for their hanepoots and red muscadels – Jakkalsvlei’s hanepoot was judged overall champion sweet wine at the 2009 South African Young Wine Show, and its red muscadel took the trophy for best red muscadel at the 2010 show – the farm is also planted to pinot noir, cabernet, ruby cabernet, pinotage, sauvignon blanc, merlot, shiraz, chardonay and sémillon grapes.

“Besides producing award-winning wines, Jakkalsvlei is also host to some of Mossel Bay’s most unusual events – like the Barefoot Grape Dance in March, the Pick Your Own Hanepoot season from the 15th of February to the 15th of March, and the annual Jakkalsvlei Mountain Bike Challenge, which offers some of the most scenic mountain biking in the area,” adds Holm.

Jakkalsvlei also encourages day visitors to enjoy hiking and mountain biking in the vineyards and the surrounding hills, and guests are encouraged to bring their own picnic baskets and relax in the area.

“I made the Coffee Pinotage as an add-on to my wine portfolio and because everybody wants to drink it at the moment,” says Jonker. “I didn’t put any coffee flavour or anything else into it – it’s the amount of toasted oak wood staves that gives you the smell and taste of coffee.

“I’ve now got eight different wines, which means something for everybody. Besides the Pinotage – Coffee Edition, I make a Cabernet Sauvignon; the Mount Cuvée (a Pinotage/Merlot blend); the River Cuvée (Chardonnay/Colombard); La Perlé Rosé; a Sauvignon Blanc, and the Hanepoot and Red Muscadel dessert wines.

“My whole range is designed for easy drinking, and the Coffee Pinotage is no different,” he notes.

The Coffee Pinotage has an alcohol content of 13.5%; the grapes were harvested on the 21 February 2011; the sugar content at harvest (ºBalling) was 24.4ºB (x 0.55 = Alcohol); and the yeast used in fermentation was the VIN 13.

Jakkalsvlei is situated on the R327 and 50 km outside of Mossel Bay. Its tasting and sales room is open Mondays to Saturdays, and cheese platters are available for purchase.

For more information go to www.jakkalsvlei.co.za or www.visitmosselbay.co.za.