Conventionally Stellenbosch is all about the vine - but Dornier Wines is going against the grain in a good way thanks to its owner.

Christopher Dornier’s wine farm is 168 hectares and borders on Keerwerder, Stellenbosch. While the tried and tested methods are still used to produce the wine, don't expect to find your average Stellenbosch wine cellar here!

The pursuit of making the Dornier name synonymous with world-class wines has lead to one of our country’s most modern wine cellars.

It is a combo of a curved roof, face-brick and reflecting materials. If you have a more modern art-deco or minimalist taste then this is where you should be sampling your wine. Aside from the innovative architecture, the design enhances the beauty of the surrounding natural environment.

Dornier finds comfort in the fact that he comes from a family that defies convention. His father was shunned for suggesting that aluminium was a suitable material to build aircraft with!

The design of the place is definitely easy on the eye but it still remains a production building. The cellar’s water pump feature keeps the wine nice and chilled. So there’s no skimping on the functionality!

The aesthetic front looks good but how does it work operationally? The 500 ton winery limits the variety. But there are plans afoot to increase wine production particularly the Donatus duo.

Your Donier sampling selection includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chenin Blanc.

Some of these wines have attained a lengthy list of accolades. These include the 2007 Gold award for their 2004 vintage of Cocoa Hill Red. They also snatched up the 2006 Gold award for their 2003 vintage of Dornier Donatus Red.

Escort your dinner partner to the Dornier Bodega restaurant in Blaauwklippen road, Stellenbosch. Here you can enjoy an interesting and delicious selection of dishes. Try the Flammenkuche topped with coronation chicken, cucumber and coriander. And round it off with a Dornier wine of course.

Visit this innovative winery with these Winelands packages.

 


 
 
Photo: Chris van Schalkwyk

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