Your wines are powerful but never heavy. How do you achieve that balance?
“The power comes from the low yield and 30 year old wines of the Redstone Vineyard. The balance comes from harvesting rather early than late the grapes and so keep its natural acidity.”
You’ve tasted some of the world’s greatest wines. How has that influenced the way you make wine?
“Because wine is for me not for tasting, but enjoying with food, that’s why I look for elegance, power and balance, like great wines do have. Plus, Character and some mystic.”
Is there a wine or a winemaker that changed the way you think about wine?
“Not really, as I know what I want from our vineyard. Then of course the vintage does its own course. Just to achieve the goal I got a hand from my friend Giuseppe Rinaldi, who sadly is no more.”
What is the story behind the design of your labels?
“As my wife Laura is painting, we decided to give to the labels some of her Art. From 2021 vintage we will stick with the Silver label and give a painting to future Reserves. The Grand Reserve will have the CR1 engraved on the bottle.”
What do the names Redstone CR1, Reserve and Grand Reserve mean?
“CR1 means : Capelands Redstone first selection. This is used for Redstone, the Reserve and the Grand Reserve in our Prestige Line. The best selection of grapes after aging in a year of the Redstone vineyard.”
What made you choose South Africa to build Capelands?
“I am 42 years in fine wine and it was a dream to have my own vineyard with ocean influence in a beautiful place in the world. That we found in Somerset West.”
Do you think Capelands brings together your European roots and South African terroir? Where do you see each influence in your wines?
“Definitely. I like freshness and elegance with Character for each wine we make. That needs time to develop and right decisions. I am not interested in upfront commercial wines, but wines who can develop and show their beauty when they reach their best time in life. We only release Redstone after 4 to 5 years maturation and the wines are most of the time still too young.
Your years with the Merano Wine Festival gave you the chance to taste incredible wines from around the world. How did that shape your own approach to winemaking?
“The Merano Wine Festival was a result of my wine experience before. I was very deep into the best wine regions in the world, with their best products and I tasted everything exists. Thats why u than build your palate and at the end u look for the most delicate and balanced wines, which give pleasure drinking as young wines and in their development. For the Merano Wine Festival I selected the best producers of all regions to participate as the flagships.”
You created a festival that celebrates the best of the wine world, and you are known for your cooking as well. What role does sharing food and wine with others play in your life?
“Cooking is part of wine loving, as you enjoy wine with food. I cook since I was 18 years old and all styles of kitchen. After running our Restaurant in the kitchen, today I do only some private VIP dinners on request. And I cook for my family and friends nearly every day.”
After all these years, what still excites you when a new vintage begins?
“Its just to improve all time. Nature gives us what we get and we must deal with it as best as we can, without changing or manipulating the product. I always say its God given and this you do not change as you will not make it better. Oh yes, we finished our new wine cellar at Capelands Wine Farm and I sourced some Pinot Noir Grapes. So that will be a new excitement and a new family member.”
