Babylonstoren Viognier 2023

In front of the impressive scenery of the Simonsberg and the Franschhoek Mountains, the Babylonstoren winery stretches out. Its origins date back to 1692, when Pieter van der Byl planted the first vineyards on the farm and made irrigation possible by converting the canals. Some of these old structures have survived to this day, as has the Cape Dutch architecture of the Manor House or the former cowshed where the Babel Restaurant is located, because a few years ago the new owners Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos restored the winery - and the historic fruit and wine farm took a turn. Today Babylonstoren is one of the best preserved Cape Dutch-style wineries.

Taking up the Cape Dutch architecture, the famous architect Gerard de Villiers designed a State of the Art wine cellar in which grapes from thirteen different grape varieties produce elegant and well-balanced wines that reflect their terroir. Visitors will have the opportunity to taste the creations in the adjacent tasting room. The modern steel and glass building is a real eye-catcher in itself, but the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows over the vineyards and Babylonstorenberg, which gave the winery its name because it reminded the first owners of the tower of Babylon, is simply breathtaking. If you have a bit more time, take a guided tour of the wine cellar and take a look behind the scenes - a tour of the vineyards and an excursion to the olive oil production are also part of it. 

Nature plays an important role on Babylonstoren - both in the production of the wines and olive oils and in the garden of the winery, which was created after the model of the Company's Garden in Cape Town. It was created in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company and served to supply the ships that stopped at the Cape. Besides, the garden links back to the hanging gardens of Babylon which king Nebukadnezar has created for his wife who longed for the mountains and valleys of her youth. All of the more than 300 plants in the garden of Babylonstoren are edible or have a medicinal effect and the fruit and vegetables end up on the plates of the two restaurants Babel and Greenhouse. The garden can be visited during a guided tour. To enjoy the beautiful nature, however, a reservation in advance is necessary. The philosophy of Babylonstoren and the character of the wines can best be described by the winery's logo. It shows a pipe as a symbol for the farmer, the flower represents the garden and the bird the nature. The combination of these is the essence of Babylonstoren: To make things as simple and natural as possible. In addition to the excellent wines, the magnificent garden and the restaurants, there is also a hotel and a wellness area on the winery - so there are plenty of good reasons to stay longer on Babylonstoren and relax with a tasty glass of wine.