We are going quickly now! Meet wine farm number 15, Luddite in Bot River.
How awesome is this floor made from wine barrels!?
I was welcomed to Luddite with some Genevieve MCC and fresh oysters.
100% Chardonnay and has spent 4 years on the lees. Light, fine bubbles and fruity. R200 a bottle.
The outside area didn’t have any chairs but I could see that they were building a balcony which overlooks the valley.
Luddite prides themselves on their Shiraz. 90% French Oak, 5% American Oak and 5% Hungarian Oak.
25% of these barrels were new and the rest 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill. The wine remained in the barrel for 1 year before being bottled. On the nose you can pick up herbs and cinnamon spice.
On the palate you will enjoy plum and dark chocolate.
The 2012 is R500 a bottle.
For the younger generation like myself who can’t spend as much as R500 on a bottle of wine, Luddite has introduced a rather funky looking red and white blend called Saboteur.
Have you ever seen a wine bottle with a crown cap? It’s a very good wine too and within the R150 – R230 per bottle mark.
The white blend is 68% Chenin Blanc, 15% Viognier, 15% Blanc Fumé and 2% Chardonnay.
Can you spot the lion in the painting? 🙂
Over converstation with others, I heard that Luddite is only open upon request and on certain Saturdays.
Booking is a must.
As you can imagine, it is a small tasting room and the price of the wine is high.
Through the window, you can get a glimpse of the wine cellar.
We absolutely loved this activity, painting the walls.
It was incredibly windy the day I visited but I just loved to get out and about among the decor of the festival.
Just a short drive up the road, we stumbled upon some horses.
They were so friendly!
This one was a total poser! Cheese!
We had a bond.
I am not a huge fan of Shiraz and this may have affected the rating but if you are in the area, you should stop by to give it a try for yourself.
I am not a wine expert and just rate according to my experience on the day I visited.
There could have been more seating overlooking the views however I see that they were building a balcony at the time I visited.
Best for smaller groups of people (2-4 people).
Not recommended for children.
Booking is essential.
Luddite Wines is open for tastings on week days from 10h00 until 16h00 and by appointment on weekends. Contact Niels on +27 (0) 83 444 3537 to make an appointment.
tel: +27 (0) 28 284 9308
fax: +27 (0) 28 284 9045
mail – luddite@telkomsa.net
Directions to the farm:
From Cape Town, take the N2 towards Hermanus but miss the Hermanus turn-off.
Take the next turn-off which is Exit 92.
Turn left into Botrivier and follow the only road through the village.
Drive over the railway line and turn right onto a dust road that is the Van der Stel Pass.
Drive for 1.5km and the Luddite sign is on the left.
GPS coordinates: S 34ᵒ 12’ 50.5” E 019ᵒ 12’ 24.1”
Here is my experience: