Ormonde Wine Estate
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In Their Words
History & Location
Located just 1 hours’ drive from Cape Town on the outskirts of the charming town of Darling, Ormonde Wine Estate is situated where the rugged Darling hills roll and fall along the contours of an ancient granite intrusion. These molten rocks, forced from the earth to 300m above sea level, guard the Atlantic Ocean while banks of fog roll to the foot of the hills, blessing the vineyard with coolness and moisture.
The Basson family have roots which penetrate deep into the history of Darling. Being of a big family, grandfather Vernon Basson settled on a farm in Philadelphia, a town close to Darling. Our father, Nico, was an avid animal lover and returned to Darling in 1970 when he bought the farm to start a highly acclaimed dairy stud. With great perseverance, foresight and hard work, he set about planting vineyards on his farm, long before the area became the premier wine producing area that it is today. Today the future generation of Bassons are playing in the vineyard, learning the craft from a young age.
We pride ourselves on creating wines characteristic of our terroir and pour our passion for creating wines into each and every wine to be enjoyed by wine lovers all over the world. With our remote, country feel – secluded from the hustle and bustle of the usual tourist destinations – we look forward to welcoming you to our friendly estate!
Operating Hours
Wine Tasting: open Mon to Sat 9am-4pm.
Chocolate & Wine Pairing: available daily at 11am & 2pm (pre-booking recommended).
*PLEASE NOTE*
Closed Sundays. All times, prices and facilities listed are subject to change. We recommend checking latest details directly with the farm and pre-booking experiences wherever possible, to avoid disappointment.
Wine Tasting
With its close proximity to the cool Atlantic Ocean and nestled in the protected Cape Floral Kingdom, the uniqueness of the Darling Hills terroir is undisputed. Comprising of 9,600 plant species, the Cape Floral Kingdom is the richest reservoir of plant species in the world and the Darling wine region is home to 600 of these species. Gladiolus Carinatus (also known as bloupypie) thrives on our terroir and influences the unique character and quality of our wines.
Our vineyards sit at altitudes between 150-300m above sea level, allowing yet another cooling factor, initiating a prolonged ripening period which brings fantastic natural acidity to the juice and consequently wines with layers of fruity characteristics. We are grateful and respect our environment and are a member of the Biodiversity in Wine Initiative and Integrated Production of Wine Initiatives.
We concentrate our efforts on 5 wine ranges: Chip off the Old Block, Basson, Ondine, the Ormonde Barrel Selection range and our Alexanderfontein retail range. The wines are wonderfully aromatic and accessible on the palate. Fresh and well-balanced, they are crafted for unpretentious pleasure and enjoyment and include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. We also offer more unusual Grenache, Malbec and award winning Cabernet Franc.
In addition to wine tasting, we also offer a Chocolate & Wine Pairing, a Kids’ Pairing and a Cheese & Charcuterie platter.
Pricing
Two wine tasting options are available. Sample 3 of our heritage range of flagship wines including the Noble Late Harvest for R50pp, or choose your own flight from a selection of Chip off the Old Block, Ondine, Basson or Barrel Selection ranges. These are served in flights of 5 wines and guests are allowed up to 2 flights, for R50pp. Fee waived if a case (6 bottles) is purchased.
A kids’ pairing is available for R45 per child and includes the elements for making a coke float, plus cookies & milk and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows – we also have a kids’ jungle gym to keep the little ones happy.
Our Chocolate & Wine pairing costs R100pp and is offered Mon to Sat at 11am and 2pm, privately presented by a dedicated staff member in our Vinotique. Pre-booking is recommended and this pairing usually takes about an hour.
A delectable Cheese & Charcuterie platter for 2 is available for R250, plus we offer gourmet bagels and home baked toasties.
Restaurants
Please note there is no full service restaurant at Ormonde, however light snacks and a Cheese & Charcuterie platter is available in the Tasting Room. Alternatively, options are available in Darling, just a couple of minutes’ drive away.
Tours & Activities
Currently Ormonde do not offer cellar or farm tours.
Apart from visiting us, Darling offers a wide variety of attractions making for the perfect weekend getaway destination. We recommend visitors refer to www.darlingtourism.co.za to check out the latest information on accommodation, events and shows to help plan your visit.
When Lucy Visited
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