Paul Clüver
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When the Clüver family settled in Elgin in 1896, nobody was thinking about winegrowing. It was mainly apples with which they became successful. But exactly a century later, the Clüvers set up their own winery.
Elgin is about an hour's drive south-east of the centre of Cape Town. A little further on is the Groenlandberg nature reserve, part of the UNESCO Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. The Clüvers settled here in 1896 and founded De Rust Farm. They were very successful with the cultivation of pome fruit and today own 2,200 hectares of land.
When Dr Clüver was asked by winegrowers from the then Stellenbosch Farmers Winery in the mid-1980s whether he could imagine growing wine alongside the fruit trees, he was very open-minded. After all, the Clüvers had been pioneers in the region before, and why shouldn't they be again a hundred years later? Researchers at the University of Viticulture in Stellenbosch had identified Elgin as the ideal location for the viticulture of the future. Elgin is situated at a high altitude and is the coolest growing region in South Africa. The soil consists of Bokkeveld slate and the water supply is good.
the first vines were planted in 1986 and the results were excellent from the very beginning. Cool-climate wines were and are produced here, the like of which cannot be found anywhere else in Africa. in 1990, Paul Clüver held his first bottle of Riesling in his hand, at that time still from the Nederburg wine estate in Paarl. But in 1996, exactly a century after the founding of De Rust Farm, the Clüvers opened their own winery. They had once again become pioneers and established the reputation of the now widely recognised wine estate.
Winemaker Andries Burger, one of the best in his field, was there right from the start. He characterised the style of the wines from the very beginning and ensured their great success. Grape varieties are cultivated that are suitable for the cool climate in Elgin. In addition to Riesling, these include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The „Seven Flags“ Pinot Noir and the „Seven Flags“ Chardonnay are among the best wines in the country.
© Photos: Winery Paul Clüver
