MEANDER IN MCGREGOR | LORDS VINTAGE PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

Nestled away at the end of the McGregor valley, one can find Lord’s Wines. The wine estate is located at the top end of the McGregor Wine Meander, which is known for its amazing diversity, consistent quality and great value for money wines. You will also find the infamous “road to nowhere” that runs from Robertson to McGregor, carries on through the village of McGregor and then just stops! A visit to the town of McGregor and Lord’s Wines is a must.

Lord’s Wines is a boutique winery off the beaten track and is, truly, a well-kept secret that produces fabulous wines. Originally a family-owned fruit farm, Lord’s is now producing some of the best wines in the Breede River Valley. The area is perfect for a getaway and re-boot in stunning wilderness. The town of McGregor is quiet, peaceful and relaxing with traditional, whitewashed, thatched cottages and is surrounded by beautiful mountains and wine estates.

Lord’s Wines has a stunning, newly-built wedding venue which is adjacent to the wine cellar and has breath-taking panoramic views of the areas indigenous fynbos. Wherever you are on the estate, you are met with the majestic backdrop of the Riviersonderend Mountain Range. The location and setting are suited for a whole weekend affair with family and friends. In addition, the estate has two modern ground-floor apartments on the farm which provides a great base to explore this beautiful valley.

I was fortunate enough to purchase Lord’s Wines new release - Pinot Noir Rosé 2020, just before the alcohol ban was introduced in South Africa. You can place your orders through the website by emailing: orders@lordswinery.com (delivery will take place after the ban is lifted).

Having previously enjoyed wines from the estate, the new Rosé vintage from this exclusive wine farm caught my attention. I love the label, which is simple and classy. The blush pink and gold embossed script on the bottle gives the wine an incredible soft and delicate look and feel. Rosé is an often-overlooked category of wine which is a shame, because it is perfect for sunny days. This varietal from Lord’s gives you so much to discover and does not have the sweetness often associated with South African Rosés.

The grapes used for this exquisite wine were only harvested in February this year and, incredibly, the wine has already been bottled and is perfect for drinking. A common misconception of Rosé wines is that people think that the wine is a blend of red and white grapes varietals, which it is not. Rather, it is made by shortening the key step in the making of red wine which is the “grape skin contact” stage. The light pink colour of the wine is lovely and was achieved from the short skin contact with the Pinot Noir grapes. This is one of the benefits of Rosé, it has the body of a red wine, but when served chilled (but not too cold), it is extremely refreshing. My rule of thumb is that I normally take out the Rosé from the cooler about 20 minutes before drinking. The Lord’s Pinot Noir Rosé brings tastes and a nose of exotic cherry and raspberry aromas and is surprisingly creamy with flavours of candy floss and rose petals.

As spring is nearing in South Africa, I have enjoyed this wine over lazy lunches on my sunny terrace. It is well-suited for warm days, but I could easily drink it year-round. I have paired the Pinot Noir Rosé with poached salmon, which complimented the wine perfectly.

What is the definition of a good wine? It should start and end with a smile, and this beauty from Lord’s does just that! This Pinot Noir Rosé is ready for drinking immediately and is the perfect match for alfresco dining and sharing with friends.

TC

xoxo