The southernmost tip of the African continent, Cape Agulhas, 170 km east-southeast of Cape Town, is considered the place where Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. It is certainly an imaginary boundary between the two oceans, as there is a substantial difference in temperature between the two water masses. Along the eastern African coast, a warm Gulf Stream, the Agulhas Current, runs from the north and turns straight south at Cape Agulhas. West of this cape, on the other hand, a very cold current runs north along the coast, towards Cape Town. And then continues towards Namibia and Angola. This latter, cold stream is called the Benguela Stream.
And where these streams meet, very cold water wells up from the depths of the ocean to surface on the coast. This cold Benguela current has a major impact on the local climate along this stretch of the South African coast.
The climate
It is the, certainly by South African standards, extremely cool climate along the bay coast off Hermanus, in which the provenance designation 'Walker Bay' sets itself apart from all other wine-growing regions in the Cape Province. Even early-ripening grape varieties like pinot noir quietly ripen relatively late in the season here, allowing them to develop highly refined aromas. And, because the sun does get high in the sky, even varieties like syrah still ripen. Although they produce a very different, much more elegant type of wine than in much hotter areas.
Just west of Hermanus lies a tranquil lagoon, at the mouth of the Bot River. There, on the eastern bank, lies the winery of Benguela Cove, with 70 hectares of vineyards. In 2013, Penny Streeter bought the vineyards and turned it into an extremely successful winery. She also turned it into a successful place for wine tourism. There is an outstanding restaurant, an art gallery and a place where children can also have fun. The kids can have fun with, among other things, an adventurous midget golf course. Apart from 70 hectares of vineyards, there are also olive groves and fields of lavender. And with views over the Atlantic Ocean, all this makes Benguela Cove an almost paradisiacal place.
But a winery is more than just a romantic dream; and making truly successful great and special wines requires more than a special terroir. Not just a very skilled winemaker, which Penny Streeter has found in award-winning South African winemaker Johann Fourie. But also the art of successfully marketing the wines.
The range
Benguela Cove's range consists of three series plus an iconic wine.
The Lighthouse Collection is designed to delight your taste buds with all those special characteristics of a cool viticultural climate but in a very accessible way. The name refers to the lighthouse overlooking the vineyards, the Bot lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean and comprises a delicious, almost classically-fresh Sauvignon Blanc, a juicy Syrah and the delectable 'Moody Lagoon', an intriguing deep red blend of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot and merlot.
Then the Estate-wines: characterful, very expressive wines, such as a flawless Sauvignon Blanc, a refined, mineral Chardonnay, a beautiful, sophisticated Pinot Noir, a distinguished Malbec and the particularly successful 'Collage', a classic Bordeaux blend.
The Vinography-wines are the reflection of a logbook kept by both nature and Benguela Cove's winemaker, Johann Fourie: it highlights the unique characteristics of a single vineyard expressed in the wine. In this series, a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir and a Petit Verdot, each made in very limited numbers. And finally, there is the Catalina Semillon, a unique wine of which only 3 barrels are made each year and which people cannot stop talking about.
For more information on these wines and sales addresses: De Monnik Beverages
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