As you drive into Franschhoek, you'll pass quite a few wine estates. But you need to be on the lookout for the Old Road Wine Co sign, because if you blink twice, you're going to miss it. And well that is going to be quite sad & most definitely your loss. So if you hit the centre of town, you best make a u-turn & go back to look again. Remember, this time... Don't blink!
Opening in December 2018, Old Road Wine Co is pretty much the new kid on the block in Franschhoek. But that doesn't mean they don't know what they are doing!
Find a spot on the deck where you can sit, relax & look out over the vineyards below. I can definitely see myself spending lots of time on that deck sipping on some wine & snacking on some fresh pizza straight out of Old Nonna. I'll tell you this; in my opinion, Old Road Wine Co is situated on one of the best spots on the main road, next to the old railway line.
The space is fresh, funky & just plain cool! With modern industrial touches running throughout the property with brass & copper finishes accompanied by a mix of contemporary furniture The Fat Man Restaurant & Anvil Tasting Room are alive & inviting.
We sat down with winemaker Ryan Puttick one morning to chat & taste wine. Old Road Wine Co produce wines that pay homage to the entire Franschhoek Valley's heritage, old vines & interesting stories.
So lets talk some wine. But 1st, please have a look at these labels. How beautiful & quirky right? And rightly so, there is 'The Quirky Ones' range of wines available at Old Road Wine Co. With labels adorned with a Cleaver, a Jack Russel & Marie Antoinette about to be beheaded as she sits with her head in a guillotine. Each label naturally comes with a story that is well suited with what is in the bottle.
Okay, now onto the wines. Starting with my favourite find. The bottle of Pardonnez-Moi. A Cinsault. I'm all for the different & lesser known varietals & well, lets be honest. Majority of folk have never even heard of it. Well, next time you see it in stores, you should definitely give it a try. A gorgeous light fruity red wine, that would make a great summer wine for those days you aren't keen for that heavier red wine. With bursts of ripe red cherries & berries on the nose with hints of spice, I believe this should be served slightly chilled.
Then part of the single vineyard, is the Grand Mère. An elegant 100% Semillon with a perfumed nose of light pear & slight hints of citrus. Following onto the palate with a soft & smooth mouth-feel where some tropical flavours keep evolving. Being slightly wooded sure has given this bottle such amazing character & some aging potential so you can keep this beauty for a while.
Ah, then the 12 Mile Syrah definitely cemented a new found love for Syrah. So back in the day, the postmaster had to cycle 12 miles to deliver the post on a daily basis to the folk in Franschhoek. An elegantly complex yet textured bottle of ripe fresh berries. Hints of pepper follow through on the palate & combined with blackcurrants will have you savouring the last drop.
This is definitely worth the stop! You need to add this to your list. I know that I'll be popping in again for a while longer.
#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Driven by the #KiaSportage
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