Drostdy-Hof
P O Box 9, Tulbagh 6820
Tel: 023 230 1086
Fax: 023 230 0510
Open for wine tasting and sales 0800 to 1200 and 1330 to 1700 Monday to Friday, and 0900 to 1230 Saturday. Cellar tours 1100 & 1500 Monday to Friday and 1100 Saturday
Owner: SA Wine Cellars Winemaker/cellarmaster: Frans du Toit (since 1968)
Established 1906, this venerable Tulbagh winery, now under SA Wine Cellars wing, is part of Cape wine lore. So too is low-profile wine maker Frans du Toit, with more than 30 crushes below the winter snow-capped Witzenberg peaks to his credit. And is there anything young and fresh here amid the gabled history? Just the usual focus on quality, consistency and value, which have made the Chardonnay and Light SA's top sellers, and the export labels major hits in their respective arenas.* John Platter, South African Wines, 2000
History
De Oude Drostdy, the graceful manor house of the Drostdy-Wine,
was built in 1804. The Cape Dutch supreme officer of the Cape of Good
Hope, Governor Jansen, requested renowned Cape 
architect
Louis Marcel Thibault to erect this magnificent building. It rates as one
of his most impressive works.
Originally home of the local magistracy, De Oude Drostdy has since had to withstand the ravages of earthquakes, winds and torrential rains - on occasion seemingly beyond repair.
However, it was rescued by some magnificent restoration work and is now the headquarters of Drostdy Wines and a museum of cultural history.
This classic building reflects the heritage and commitment to quality that one finds in every bottle of Drostdy-Hof wine.
The Wines
Drostdy Wines, producer of New World wines, was established in 1964 at what was then South Africa's oldest private sherry cellar just outside the town of Tulbagh in the Western Cape.
The first wines under the
Drostdy-Hof label were released in 1973. They were named after the
courtyard in front of the cellar ("Hof" means "court").
From the outset, the secret of Drostdy-Hof wines' success proved two-fold; selection and blending. This has always been supported by the cellarmaster's dedication to create New World wines of consistent quality for lovers of everyday drinking wine. Today, these cornerstones are the hallmark of Drostdy-Hof wines.
Cellarmaster Frans du Toit ensures the achievement of these goals. He selects wines produced from the best vineyards in the Western Cape to blend wines which meet Drostdy-Hof's exacting standards.
Vintage Reds
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Cabernet Sauvignon
Aged in small casks of French oak, this full bodied red wine shows classic hints of toasty oak on the nose and cassis on the palate. It ends in a long and impressive finish. A fine companion to Roast Beef and grilled steak, venison, game and noble cheeses.
Platters says "96 animated strawberry/cassis flavours, big body, firm finish. Oak aged 13.7% alc"
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Merlot
This 100% Merlot cultivar wine has full bodied, soft character with rich cherry nose nuances and a lingering, fruity aftertaste. It has marked but mellow tannins for early drinkability. This supple and versatile wine lends itself to a great variety of dishes and occasions, from homely casseroles to the more festive fare.
Platters says "Ripe berries in 99, good mouth-feel, very drinkable. 13% alc."
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Pinotage
This locally developed cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsault) is an internationally recognised variety unique to the Cape. It produces wines with all the velvetyness of Burgundy and the power of the Rhone wines. Made exclusively from pinotage grapes, the wine has characteristic berry, plum and fig aromas with undertones of woody spice from maturation in small casks of French oak. This character is best complimented by hearty lamb, beef and pork dishes.
Platter says "96 plummy colour/flavours, lots of ripe banana, mulberry fruit, soft on palate, brush of oaky vanilla. 12.4% alc."
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Cape Red
This smooth flavourful red wine is blended from Shiraz and Pinotage and is aged in small wood. Deeply coloured and generously flavoured this red is still light, fresh and fruity and makes the ideal wine for everyday enjoyment and especially for barbeques.
Platters says "Complex, ripe berry fruit, nicely oaked in 99, soft texture, long finish, Pinotage, Shiraz, Ruby Cab."
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Ruby Cabernet
A native of California, the Ruby Cabernet variety is a crossing of the prolific carignan and the noble cabernet sauvignon varieties. The cultivar is not commonly found in the Cape, thriving mainly in the warmer, drier areas. Drostdy-Hof Ruby Cabernet captures both the intense colour of its one parent Carignan, and the characteristic aroma of its other parent Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate it is full of fruit, brimming with red and blackcurrant flavour, and has a subtle vanilla character. Ideally suited to lamb casseroles and barbeques.
Platters says "96 (export only). Wild berry, mint, pepper bouquet/palate. Big mouth feel 13.6% alc."
Vintage Whites
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Chardonnay
A delicate, noble wine with a complex bouquet. Fermented and matured in small French oak for a full and dry elegance in character. This 100% chardonnay is smooth and rich on the palate with a lingering, fruity aftertaste persisting into a satisfying finish. This crisp wine shows its best with fine seafood or grilled fish dishes.
Platters says " SA's best selling Chard. 98 big, full, light lemony tones, tropical touches in crisp, fresh finish."
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Sauvignon Blanc
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is dry, round and flavourful with good harmony between the vegetal, grassy and peppery aromas. Fresh yet complex it has a zingy acidity that balances well with the overall rich character. Perfectly compliments the more robust chicken, pork and fish dishes.
Platters says "98 developing well. Forward, fresh gooseberry, figs, hints of meadow grass. Crisp finish."
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Chenin Blanc
Made exclusively from noble French grape Chenin Blanc, it is a well balanced, dry white wine, silky on the palate with apple and floral flavours. Light fruity and dry, this wine is ideal for everyday drinking.
Platters says "98 fruity-fresh, clean, crisp, quaffing."
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Adelpracht
A full-sweet Special Late Harvest vintage wine made from chenin blanc grapes. It lingers pleasantly on the palate and has a smooth, clean and fruity aftertaste.
Platters says "98 keeping well in bottle. Big fruit salad aromas/flavours, fresh honey/lemon finish. Mainly chenin with touch gewurz, hanepoot. Good aperitif, or with fresh fruit. Lightly chill."