In the quaint Klein Karoo hamlet of Calitzdorp, world famous for its fine wines, dried fruits and hospitality, there is a winding dirt road that leads one out of town and into the picturesque Groenfontein Valley. As the dirt road takes one esver deeper into Groenfontein, winding its way along the rambling Nel’s River and gently rolling hillsides covered in spekboom, aloes and all manner of Karoo succulents, you find a small sign post with a portly golden flying pig emblazoned on it and then you know you’ve found the place where dreams do come true, as you’ve found the Baylys and their secret patch of vines. Peter and Yvonne Bayly headed into this secluded valley over a decade ago to fulfil their lifelong dream of crafting artisanal wines and “live free-range” in one of the most secluded areas of South Africa.
At a bend in the river, with the majestic Swartberg as backdrop, lies a meticulously tended 1.2 hectares of Touriga Naçional, Tinta Barroca and Souzão planted in between shale and quartz. These Portuguese varietals were chosen by the Baylys in 2000, with the explicit aim of crafting the finest Cape Port and distinctive Klein Karoo red wines.
Although Groenfontein lies deep within the semi-arid Klein Karoo, it is blessed with an abundance of water, sniping cold winters and mild summers – the row direction and proximity of the vineyard to the massive hillside insure that they are in shadow from two o’clock onwards every day. These temperate conditions result in low yielding vines and a longer slower ripening period, which results in fruit with intense colour and flavour complexity. The exceptional fruit quality and artisanal wine making techniques – including natural fermentation in lagares (traditional Portuguese open-fermentation vessels), foot treading, manual pigeage, minimal pumping and maturation in seasoned large volume French oak barrels – result in limited quantities of distinctive handcrafted premium wines
With all this said, all one really needs to do is open a bottle of the Bayly’s fine Cape Vintage Port, scintillating Cape White Port or the groundbreaking red blend, simply named III, and then you’ll be able to taste that “dreams do come true”.
For more information and enquiries visit www.peterbayly.co.za, send an email to [email protected], drop us a line on +27 (0)44 2133702 or +27 (0)83 4575037 or follow us at www.facebook.com/peter-bayly-wines, www.twitter.com/@PeterBaylyWines, linkedin/peter_yvonne bayly
At a bend in the river, with the majestic Swartberg as backdrop, lies a meticulously tended 1.2 hectares of Touriga Naçional, Tinta Barroca and Souzão planted in between shale and quartz. These Portuguese varietals were chosen by the Baylys in 2000, with the explicit aim of crafting the finest Cape Port and distinctive Klein Karoo red wines.
Although Groenfontein lies deep within the semi-arid Klein Karoo, it is blessed with an abundance of water, sniping cold winters and mild summers – the row direction and proximity of the vineyard to the massive hillside insure that they are in shadow from two o’clock onwards every day. These temperate conditions result in low yielding vines and a longer slower ripening period, which results in fruit with intense colour and flavour complexity. The exceptional fruit quality and artisanal wine making techniques – including natural fermentation in lagares (traditional Portuguese open-fermentation vessels), foot treading, manual pigeage, minimal pumping and maturation in seasoned large volume French oak barrels – result in limited quantities of distinctive handcrafted premium wines
With all this said, all one really needs to do is open a bottle of the Bayly’s fine Cape Vintage Port, scintillating Cape White Port or the groundbreaking red blend, simply named III, and then you’ll be able to taste that “dreams do come true”.
For more information and enquiries visit www.peterbayly.co.za, send an email to [email protected], drop us a line on +27 (0)44 2133702 or +27 (0)83 4575037 or follow us at www.facebook.com/peter-bayly-wines, www.twitter.com/@PeterBaylyWines, linkedin/peter_yvonne bayly
