This family winery in Bot River produces highly individualistic wines. Raoul and Jayne Beaumont instilled a love of all things viti/vinicultural in their winemaker son Sebastian. New vineyards have been planted on specially selected sites and slopes to complement the older established vineyards. Select hand picking of grapes into small crates and hand punching of the red wines in open fermenters allow the wines to express the taste of their place of origin with finesse and complexity. The large range – including a luscious Noble Late Harvest – caters for a variety of palates. Facilities include two self-catering cottages and meals for small groups by appointment.

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The historic farm Compagnes Drift in Bot River was once an outpost for the Dutch East India Company in the 1700’s and is now a family run farm producing a small range of quality wines. A mere hour from Cape Town, en route to Hermanus, the farm is set on the eastern slopes of the Houw Hoek Mountains and falling within the Walker Bay ward, it enjoys the influence of a cool maritime microclimate.

Raoul & Jayne Beaumont started revitalizing the old wine cellar in 1993 and produced 3 excellent vintages of top quality Pinotage. Their goal was to go back to the earth with new vineyards planted on specially selected sites and slopes to complement the older established vineyards.

Sebastian Beaumont came on board in 1999 as viticulturist / assistant winemaker and is now the winemaker. Daughter Ariane, jewellery designer and namesake for a wine, is involved in the marketing.

To accompany the highly rated Pinotage and Chenin Blanc the range includes Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Shiraz and a classic red blend called Ariane. Beaumont’s focus on Chenin Blanc as an historically neglected classic varietal is an exciting and daring move towards proving the versatility and ability of this cultivar to make complex and excellent wines. Small parcels of Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Malbec & Semillon have been planted on specially selected sites for blending purposes to enhance the complexity of the wines.

Select handpicking of grapes into small crates and hand punching of the red wines in open fermenters along with modern tools of the trade that encourage temperature control and assist the gentle movement of wine on its journey through the cellar to small oak barrels for up to 18 months maturation.

The Beaumont family take pride in their naturally made, individual wines vinified with the talent and passion of Sebastian expressing the taste of their place of origin with finesse and complexity.

CLIMATE, SOILS AND VITICULTURE

Due to the farms location at the foot of the Houw Hoek Mountains and its close proximity (15km) to the sea its unique situation is ideal for vine and fruit production.

With an average annual rainfall of 550mm of which 22% falls in the growth season it is necessary to provide some supplementary irrigation. The majority of the vineyards are located on hill slopes with medium deep soils on a clay or shale base which is beneficial for moisture retention.

Summer temperatures are kept cool with regular afternoon sea breezes caused by cold Atlantic currents and resulting in a good long ripening period. The vines are pruned by hand and all are trellised.

Chenin Blanc
We have taken up the challenge to produce something special from this traditional South African white grape variety. The grapes are carefully selected from four different vineyard sites and are picked at full ripeness to capture the best fruit flavours. Extended lees contact and judicious use of wood produces a full-bodied, well rounded wine. The nose is predominantly tropical fruit, with some pears and melons. Further maturation will show honeyed tones emerging from the rich fruit driven flavours.

Sauvignon Blanc
Exceptional fruit quality and picked at full ripeness produces an expressive Sauvignon Blanc. The nose has tropical fruits, greenpeppers and spiciness with full flavours on the palate and backed by a refreshing grapefruit finish.

Chardonnay
Barrel fermented with regular batonage and eleven months maturation produces a rich and well structured Chardonnay. Caramel and freshly buttered toast with tropical fruit on the nose leads to a full palate rich in fruit. The citrus finish balances the big flavours making an excellent food wine with good maturation potential.

Pinotage
Excellent ripeness and quality from low yield vineyards gives an intense, deep colour with ripe fruit, black cherries, plums and spice on the nose. The good structure and ripe berry fruit on the palate is well balanced with dry ripe tannins on the finish and will provide for good maturation in the bottle.

Shiraz
A complex wine from three different vineyard sites gives character to this Rhone-style Shiraz. Good colour, spicy fruit and pepper on the nose and flavours of berry fruit with fine ripe tannins on the finish make this an elegant wine.

Ariane
A classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, this wine has been judiciously blended to obtain balance and structure. The rich deep colour with herbs, fruit and chocolate aromas gives way to a palate that is full of berry fruit and spice, yet kept in balance by soft ripe tannins.

Mourvèdre
South Africa’s first bottled Mourvèdre comes from four year old vines. This exciting wine with a dark purple colour has aromas of violets sweet ripe dark plums with spicy elegant wooded tones. A big and juicy entry of ripe sweet black berry fruits flows into a good balance between fruit and wood tannins with a long dry refined finish.

Hope Marguerite
A further drive by this cellar to show what can be achieved with Chenin Blanc has resulted in this excellent wine. The fruit is selected from our oldest vineyards and is fermented with natural yeasts in barrel where it stays for eighteen months with regular batonage. It has pears and walnuts on the nose, full rounded fruit flavours and a lingering finish.

Goutte d’Or
Botrytis bunches are hand selected from a single vineyard to make an elegant and refined Sauterne-style wine. Matured in new oak the wine has an intense nose of dried and stewed fruits and rich mouth-filling flavours with a finish that doesn’t “finish”.

Vintage Port
Only 900 bottles are made from specially selected fully ripe Pinotage and Tinta Barocca grapes. The rich Christmas pudding and spicy aromas complement this slightly drier, more Portuguese-style of Port.

FARM

Compagnes Drift consists of 500 hectares in total of which 45ha is under vineyard production and a further 5ha is planted to export pears. The remainder of the farm is predominantly fynbos-rich mountainside.

The oldest Pinotage and Chenin Blanc vineyards are from 28-40 years old and yield an average of 4-6 tons/ha of exceptional quality grapes. The younger vineyards produce 8-10 tons/ha. Currently 60% is planted to red varieties and 40% to white.

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On the historic Compagnies Drift farm (c1750), which produces Beaumont Wines, lie two very comfortable yet unpretentious cottages - Pepper Tree and Mill House (where part of the building is indeed a restored mill). It is an idyllic setting (- amid vineyards and orchards, spectacular vistas, and with a dam and river nearby) and an ideal base to explore the whole Hermanus/Elgin region. The world class Arabella golf course is nearby.

Mill House

Part of the original Mill House with views down to the river and across the valley to the seldom-used rail line. Off the kitchen, there is a quaint courtyard and braai area.

There are two double bedrooms with a sleeper couch in the living room that can sleep two more. The visitors' book tells a story... one Irish couple wrote: "The cottage a delight, full of atmosphere & history. An evening swim in the dam just adds to the magic."

Pepper Tree Cottage

One double bedroom with two extra sleeping places in the living room. Fully equipped kitchen, outside braai, kitchen fireplace, linen duvets, towels provided, wood-burning heater.

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