Old Road Wine Co. Grand-mère Single Vineyard Semillon, Franschhoek 2021

Franschhoek Cellar has been revitalised with new investment and expertise since its takeover by South African giant Douglas Green Bellingham.

Situated on the main road from Paarl/Stellenbosch, just outside the picturesque and historic village of Franschhoek, its latest cellar-door refurbishment of the original production cellar makes this a popular local haunt and tourist destination.

Visitors can taste, or enjoy with food, not only Franschhoek Cellar's own production but wines from the wider group which includes the Boschendal, Brampton, Bellingham and Barnard Series wines.

Franschhoek Vineyards is the Cellar's premium label, used for wines sourced from local parcels of vines which produce grapes too good to be swallowed up in a big blend.

Semillon has a long tradition in the Franschhoek area and there are parcels of vineyard which average around 80 years old. These grapes merit special treatment, and undergo barrel fermentation and maturation. The resultant wines should not be served too chilled, to allow their tropical and citrus fruit aromas to show. 2009 was the maiden vintage release of Franschhoek Vineyards Semillon, made by young winemaker Richard Duckitt, who also made the International Wine Challenge Trophy-winning 2014, and has now been promoted to another part of the group.