Riebeek Cellars, established in 1941, lies in the tranquil Riebeek Valley on the outskirts of the village of Riebeek Kasteel. Part of the Swartland wine region, Riebeek Cellars, under the leadership of head cellar master Zakkie Bester, produces several ranges of excellent wines year-on-year.

The winery relies on grapes supplied by the 60 shareholders from 42 farms which has given the opportunity to produce a variety of new wines such as Tinta Barocca, Viognier, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Tinta Roriz.

If you are a Chenin Blanc fan then you must try the two offered from here as well as their excellent Few Good Men Chardonnay.

Bubbles baby

Besides all these excellent wines they have recently added three sparkling wines to their portfolio.

I was introduced to them, (two Méthode Cap Classiques and one carbonated) over a luncheon at The Food Studio prepared by super talented chef, Marlene van der Westhuizen.

Zakkie led us through the wines which were made by their winemaker Eric Saayman. Eric has many years experience making bubbly and this was evident in the three delicious wines we tasted.

The two Cap Classiques, a non-vintage and a 2004 vintage, were the first Cap Classiques to be produced in the Swartland region. They are named after the Kasteelberg mountain range where the Chardonnay grapes for the bubbly are grown.

Peter Cruythoff, Jan van Riebeeks scout who discovered the Riebeeck Valley, has his name on the excellent carbonated version in his honour.

I particularly enjoyed the Kasteelberg Brut non-vintage due to the wine made predominantly from Chardonnay. The wine imparts a full, balanced, yeasty complexity which is characteristic of this style of wine, yet it still offers fresh racy zestiness.

Mouth-watering lemon cream and toasty flavours with elegant bubbles just linger on forever...

The wine complemented Marlene's goat's cheese phyllo pastry tart well. Besides being able to enjoy the wine now you can safely mature a few bottles for another three years.

Expect to pay: R90.

To order this, contact Wine Concepts.