Clos Malverne – A success story in Stellenbosch
From grape producer to one of the pioneers of the Cape Blend – this is the success story of Clos Malverne, which was one of the first wineries to produce a red wine with at least 30% percent Pinotage. To this day, the estate works with the traditional mechanical basket press to create elegant and soft wines that delight with their complexity
Vineyards Facts
- Founding year
- 1986
- Adress
- Clos Malverne, Devon Valley Road, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
- Acreage
- 23 hectares
- Flagship wine
- Auret
- Specials
- Hotel, Day Spa, Ice Cream & Wine Pairing, The Restaurant
- Tasting Room
- Wed-Sat: 10:30 - 16:30 Uhr
So: 10:30 - 15:00 Uhr
www.closmalverne.co.za
IP Smit
IP Smit graduated in agriculture, oenology and viticulture from the University of Stellenbosch in 1990. After working as an assistant winemaker and winemaker (at Simonsig, among others), he finally joined Clos Malverne in 1997, where he played a major role in its success in the years that followed. Between 2008 and 2015, IP Smit made a detour to other growing regions in the Cape and then returned to Clos Malverne. Since then, he has been firmly established at the family winery. As a winemaker, quality and a holistic approach are important to IP Smit – both in the vineyards and in the cellar.
What our Customers think
Clos Malverne is a successful red wine producer
The success story of the Clos Malverne wine estate sounds like a fairy tale, but it is true: one Christmas Eve in the 1980s, owner Seymour Pritchard got a suggestion at a braai: why not make his own wine? Until then, the farm in the picturesque Devon Valley, about six kilometres outside the town of Stellenbosch, had been a grape producer for another winery. Seymour Pritchard took a chance and produced his first wine the following year: a Cabernet Sauvignon. In the next years, the area under cultivation was increased, and with Pinotage, Merlot and Shiraz, further grape varieties were planted in order to be able to produce excellent red wine from South Africa.
Clos Malverne created first five-star Cape Blend
But that was just the beginning: in 1995, Clos Malverne was one of the first wineries to create a Cape Blend. This is a red wine blend that contains a larger proportion of Pinotage. This experiment was so successful that Clos Malverne's best red wine, the classic blend called Auret, also became a Cape Blend – and a very famous one at that, because the 1998 vintage was the first Cape Blend ever to be awarded 5 out of 5 stars by the John Platter Wine Guide. In the other premium South African wines, the focus is also on the red grape varieties, which have an accessible and uncomplicated character in the Clos Malverne line, while the Reserve wines delight with their complexity. Those who prefer South African white wine will find what they are looking for in Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. There are also two sparkling wines in the Clos Malverne portfolio.
Clos Malvernes Restaurant is popular in Stellenbosch
The white and red grapes are gently processed in the wine cellar with very little intervention. For pressing, Clos Malverne still uses the traditional, mechanical basket press. It helps to ensure that the elegant and soft wines reflect their Stellenbosch terroir. Clos Malverne's premium wines are best enjoyed in the Tasting Room or in the restaurant, which is ranked one of the top restaurants in Stellenbosch on the travel portal Tripadvisor – especially during the "Ice Cream & Wine Pairing". The day spa and a luxurious and tastefully appointed hotel perfectly round off a stay at Clos Malverne.