I had the pleasure of going on a bit of a wine tour, with my son’s class, today. I was not even aware that there were wine farms in Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha. But apparently it’s been going strong for many years and it’s a very special family business which produces some lovely wine.
A family business
The wine farm is run by Sandra Futter. This amazing woman runs the farm with the help of her son. I think something that also endured me to her was that she is also a widow: at the time of our visit it has barely been a few weeks. I have so much respect for her for continuing her work – she says “I’m tough” – but I also know that work is a good distraction.
The wine tour
And wine making is a lot of work. I certainly got educated today.
You have to plant the vineyards and it can be years before they bare fruit. You have to irrigate them with a system of water pipes. You have to spend hours on those plants also also harvesting them as well.
The wine making process was also explained to us and I found it fascinating. She showed us the yeast that she gets and then the wine bottles at various stages of the process.
We also heard stories of how she got the bottles and more about how the cork is inserted and the cover is put on.
She also showed us pictures of how the farm has grown over the years – starting with three bowls of grapes!
It sounds like a lot of hard work and a lot of experimentation to use what works, but I have to admire them for going the distance and producing something amazing.
Yes, I actually bought a bottle of their wine and it’s great!
I totally recommend a visit to this wine farm – not only for an education but also to get away and do something different. I found myself in a much more positive space after this visit and also inspired to tackle a few things as the beautiful surroundings had made my creativity flow.
What Theescombe Estate Wine Offers:
- Sunshine package: R 180 p/p= tasting 5 wines & cheese platter.
- Full package: R 260 p/p = Tour through vineyard, talk on wine making, tutored tasting of 5 wines and cheese platter, 2 – 3 hours
- Functions:
- Venue hire for small functions eg. bachelorettes, kitchen teas, adult birthday parties, engagements, staff parties, weddings, team building etc.
- Venue hire for photography (e.g. Matric, weddings)
Bookings essential – 073 889 6663 or
theescombewines@ hotmail.co.za
Check out this lovely video of walking through the vineyard, and you’ll see what I mean:
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