ADVERTORIAL | Rietvallei
‘Rietvallei invites guests to sit on the spacious porch overlooking the luscious lawns, the beautiful garden and breath-taking views of the Langeberg mountains while enjoying delicious award- winning wines.’
The Magic of
RIETVALLEI O
Discovering the ART OF WINEMAKING since 1864
ne of South Africa’s oldest family owned wine estates, you’ll find Rietvallei in the picturesque town of Robertson. Owned and run by the Burger family, from generation to generation, the art of storytelling has long been an intricate part this family. Now in its sixth generation, Rietvallei celebrates 150 years of ownership under one family. 1. THE LOCATION Rietvallei lies in the Klaas Voogds ward–about eight kilometers east of Robertson town towards Little Karoo. This region’s unique soil structure and climatic influences make it an ideal location for wine grape cultivation. Intimate knowledge of these soils, understanding 1 6
the interaction between nature and vine, and visionary winemaking practices, lie at the heart of Rietvallei’s premier winemaking over generations. 2. THE HISTORY The farm was bought in 1864 by Alewyn Burger for his son Jacobus Francois. Koos Burger farmed the estate for many years and was 70 years old when he planted a Muscadel vineyard on the farm in 1908— today the oldest of its kind in South Africa. 3. THE FAMILY Kobus is the sixth generation Burger on the Estate and current CEO and winemaker. He and his wife Elizabeth have two daughters and twin boys. Elizabeth
is actively involved in the business and manages the Manor house and venue facilities. In 2004, Kobus had his first harvest at Rietvallei as the winemaker and from then onwards he slowly developed Rietvallei’s portfolio to the wide variety of ranges and wines it has today 4. THE VENUE The farm’s manor house has now been beautifully transformed into the new venue for offices, tastings and functions. The classic, modern-country style house has a warm and comfortable ambiance, which was carefully preserved in the renovation process. Rietvallei invites guests to sit on the spacious porch overlooking the luscious
SOUTH AFRICAN CONNOISSEUR
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