Spookfontein Wine Farm
DJ of Ghost Fountain Design tells us about his inspiration and process for the restaurant and tasting room
By: Susan Tissiman
The Spookfontein cellar, restaurant and new tasting room site was always destined for its extraordinary vantage point. “From day one, when Spookfontein vines were newly planted and the restaurant just an idea, the owners had always envisaged it being right here.” says DJ Carr, the architect who lives his everyday dream as resident on the Spookfontein farm itself.
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Insights from Charl, our head chef, on the philosophy and vision behind the food, as well as current and new offerings.
The Spookfontein restaurant was established by long-time partners Vaughan, Charl & Francois in 2016, after having built up considerable combined local and international experience in the industry. Head chef, Charl, describes the restaurant as a real passion project and credits their long-term partnership with creating the collaborative foundation that allows him to live out his food fantasy: “We respect each other inside the business and that flows through how we treat the ingredients and ultimately, our food. We have a lot of fun and just enjoy being here.”
Seasonal update from our winemaker
Head winemaker, Nelis Uys, updates us on the current season, his process and new wines to be on the lookout for
Nelis is coming into his stride at Spookfontein. Having joined in early 2021, he has overseen the last two harvests. “The first years are always interesting, getting to know the vineyards and what we get from each block in terms of natural acidities, for example, which are good here and mean we don’t have to interfere much during the wine making process.”
A chat with tasting room manager, Stephan
Spookfontein’s new tasting room is marking its one-year anniversary since opening in December 2021. Offering views into the wine cellar, the surrounding mountain ranges and an intimate indigenous garden - depending on one’s vantage point - the modern, industrial-leaning design still manages to retain a real sense of intimacy. Curves and natural textures contrast against sharper lines, all creating a feeling of seamlessly blending into the landscape without interference. Much like the restaurant, it appears to be tucked away into the folds of the valley and surrounding fynbos while remaining a striking structure.
It's no wonder everyone's talking about the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. From award-winning wines, to breathtaking scenery and outdoor activities, it's special in so many ways.
From our micro-climate to our landscapes and soils, learn about what makes the terroir of Spookfontein Wine Farm so integral in creating our characteristic wines.
With a fascination for the science and creative expression of winemaking, Nelis Uys pours his passion into extracting the very best from our grapes.
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