Six wine farms in the Stellenbosch municipal area recently placed in the top 100 wine farms in the world for 2021.
This was announced at a ceremony on 20 September, according to the World’s Best Vineyards website. The list was unveiled at a German winery, Schloss Johannisberg, in Rheingau, according to an article by Focus on Travel News.
Babylonstoren wine farm was recently ranked 72nd on the list of the top 100 wine farms in the world for 2021. “Babylonstoren is not just a hotel and wine farm – it inspires a lifestyle and resonates with guests long after they have left,” said Charl Coetzee, cellar master at Babylonstoren wine farm. PHOTO: Keanan Hemmonsbey
The Stellenbosch wine farms in the top 100 are Delaire Graff Estate (placed 30th), Spier Wine Farm (68th), Babylonstoren (72nd), Waterford Estate (88th), Tokara Winery (97th) and Haute Cabrière (98th).
“These awards for those [wine] farms just confirm the messaging of Stellenbosch being a renowned and awarded wine region,” said Jeanneret Momberg, chief executive officer (CEO) of Visit Stellenbosch, the official tourism marketing organisation of Stellenbosch.
Spier wine farm recently placed 68th on the list of the top 100 wine farms in the world for 2021. “It’s a real feather in our cap to be in the top 100 wine farms in the world,” said Frans Smit, cellar master at Spier wine farm. PHOTO: Keanan Hemmonsbey
Visit Stellenbosch has a very strong focus on wine tourism, through the Stellenbosch wine routes, according to Momberg.
“[T]his is just a confirmation of the depth of our offering when it comes to wine,” said Momberg. “So, it’s not only the quality of the wine, but also the quality of the experience.”
Setting Stellenbosch apart
South Africa has a total of 10 wine farms in the top 100 list of best wine farms, according to the World’s Best Vineyards website, with the other four wine farms being Creation Wines, Klein Constantia, Steenberg and Groot Constantia.
The Haute Cabrière wine farm recently ranked 98th on the list of top 100 wine farms in the world for 2021. Haute Cabrière is a family-run wine farm. Hildegard von Arnim is the co-founder of the wine farm, as well as the tour and taste guide. Her son, Takuan von Arnim, is the cellar master, while her daughter, Tanja von Armin, is the marketing and hospitality director. This was according to Hildegard. PHOTO: Supplied/Haute Cabrière
“The fact that there are six Stellenbosch wine farms [on the list] really reiterates the uniqueness of Stellenbosch as a wine area. Stellenbosch wine region is a brand,” said Frans Smit, cellar master at Spier Wine Farm.
The secret to Stellenbosch wine farms’ success is that it is “situated in one of the most beautiful and picturesque locations in the world”, according to Charl Coetzee, cellar master at Babylonstoren.
Six Stellenbosch wine farms were recently ranked in the top 100 wine farms in the world for 2021: Delaire Graff Estate, Spier Wine Farm, Babylonstoren, Waterford Estate, Tokara Winery and Haute Cabrière. PHOTOS: Keanan Hemmonsbey and supplied/Haute Cabrière
“It is a vibrant, active, constantly evolving community with the most breathtaking panoramas and mountain ranges, attracting the city dwellers of South Africa and the world,” said Hildegard von Arnim, co-founder of the Haute Cabrière wine farm.
The weather in Stellenbosch plays a big role in the production of the wine, according to Von Arnim. “The soils and climate of this wide area are no doubt very suited for top-quality wine production, as has been proven for some centuries,” she said.