Topiary Wines in Franschhoek was originally a fruit farm called La Tramontane until 2005, when previous owner built a cellar and a tasting room and launched Topiary. In August 2014, acclaimed Burgundy producer Philippe Colin (also one of the guardians of the famous Colin-Deléger vineyards in Chassagne-Montrachet) became enchanted with the 64­-hectare farm, and purchased the estate.

The landscape surrounding this boutique winery is dominated by the dramatic Klein Drakenstein mountains. Topiary Wines occupies a gently sloping lower mountain slope at the Wemmershoek Mountain’s foothills, among the fynbos and fauna of Franschhoek Wetlands, bordered on the North and South by low sandstone ridges. The estate greatly benefits from the surrounding mountain ranges (Hottentots Holland and Simonsberg) which form a wind-generating funnel that cools the vineyards, and results in even ripening and a pronounced elegance in the wines.

All the soils on the estate are sandy –products of Table Mountain sandstone and quartzite (Clovelley, Cartref, Glenrosa, Fernwood, Witfontein and La Motte). A thorough soil analysis was conducted in 1998 before planting 20 hectares of vineyards, and the data was used to select the perfect varieties (Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay) and clones for each individual block.

The winery can process approximately 64 tons of grapes utilizing a sophisticated sorting line to ensure the best quality grapes are selected. Once the grapes have been sorted, they are put into satellite tanks and transferred to fermentation tanks via a gravity pulley system, before undergoing further aging. To both remain true to the farm’s original fruit farm status and create a biodiverse environment for flora and fauna to thrive, the remainder of the farm not under vine is planted to plum trees. Namesake, beautiful and carefully crafted topiary sculptures line the driveway, both welcoming and impressing visitors alike.

Note: We sell 10,500 bottles of Shiraz 2015 unlabelled due to a management turnover at the time. 4,200 bottles of MCC Blanc de Blancs (2013-2014) undisgorged and unlabelled.