Sophisticated, pretentious, historical, scientific and experimental are some of the adjectives I’ve used to describe wineries. Eccentric is probably what best describes Black Elephant Vintners.
Despite being owned by three self-confessed misfits and wannabe musicians who see themselves as rebels, this winery produces some great wines.
Located in the historic village of Franschoek, this winery pairs wine with music.
Kevin Swart and Jacques Wentzel believe in pushing the boundaries of conformity and they like to introduce fun into serious wine making.
Kevin is the owner of the wine farm La Petite Vigne and Jacques is a winemaker.
They are very conscious of their Franschhoek origins and work hard to capture the taste and terroir of the valley in their wines.
Their diverse brand portfolio enables them to provide a range of wines with unique physical characteristics that appeal to different desires, tastes and occasions.
Wine Tasting
Wine Tasting happens at their WTF Tasting Rooms in their cellar at 40a Uitkyk Street. Being unconventional you will not find traditional wine and food pairing here, but a wine and music pairing.
This unique combination of sound and taste is what sets Black Elephant Vintners apart from the more mundane and very normal wine industry. The Rebels Of The Vine, as they call themselves, enjoy creating a fun, relaxed and highly interactive tasting experience.
There is the Bubbly Experience with four Cap Classique wines, and the Bubbly and Wine Experience.
Chocolates from Huguenot Chocolates may be included in the tasting, but this needs to be booked in advance.
Booking is recommended but walk-ins are also welcome.
Black Elephant Wines
Black Elephant have three distinct styles of wine – Festival, Back Stage and Golden Circle. Each with and overriding style of pure elegance and accessibility.
The Festival Range is great for fun, parties and good times, making it a refreshing and easily accessible style.
The Back Stage Range comes from carefully selected vineyards, some a hundred years old. These wines are great to be savoured with special friends and for intimate occasions.
The Back Roads Petit Syrah 2019 is excellent and went down a treat when paired with a Blue Cheese Topped Sirloin Steak while listing to a U2 album!
The Golden Circle Range is made to the highest standards and the most personal wine making techniques. These will appeal to the VIP in you and for the connoisseur who can appreciate the art of wine making.
The wines may be purchased online or from selected outlets.
I particularly enjoyed the Three Men In A Tub Red Blend (Festival Range) which, according to the label, consists of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 53% Merlot and 2% Mourvedre (no typos here I promise). If you think their maths is a bit wonky you haven’t seen anything yet – just watch Three Men in a Tub with a Rubber Duck video and you will understand that eccentric may be a bit of an understatement.
Contact Details
For more information or to make a booking call +27 21 876 2903
Or email rebel@bevintners.co.za
Black Elephant Vintners may be found at 40a Uitkyk Street, Franschhoek, Western Cape, South Africa. Find them on Google Maps.
Instagram: @bevintners
