Bellingham

<< Sep 2010 >>

Nestled between the slopes of the Groot Drakenstein mountains in the Franschoek Valley, you'll find the Bellingham manor house. Founded in 1693, Bellingham has been the home of intriguing wines with its own unique and charming character. It was here, more than 350 years ago that virgin soil was tilled and the first vines planted. Since then Bellingham winemakers have lovingly nurtured the vines and carefully crafted wines of great character. The Bellingham wine philosophy is one of minimal intervention. Time - honoured methods are combined with measured technological expertise, with particular emphasis on mouth-feel and intensity of fruit. The winemaking team is driven by passion, emotion and innovation in order to create fascinating wines the people will enjoy, wines of interest to the ever-changing consumer palate. The heart of the Bellingham is our cellar. This is where winemaker Niel Groenewald explores and experiments with different combinations of veneyard b...and varietals. This is where the concept of splash of Viognier to the single varietal Chadonnay was born, as well as the dash of Malbec to our Merlot. But it did not stop there and Niel and his team have further developed and experimented to create an amazing range of blended wines that we call the Legends Collection. This range pays homage to the age old legend of St Georges who defeated the rancorous dragon that guarded a captive fair maiden in its fearful lair in the Groot Drakenstein Mountains. Bellingham wines conjure images of long, languid lunches, wonderfully warm winter dinners, intimate dinner parties where conversation flows and delightful discourse in cozy kitchen in far corners of the world.