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We would like to express our thanks to all those who, in a short space of time, have become regulars and are ensuring that our open days are proving to be a great success. Thanks to everyone who attended at the end of May this year, in support of the launch of our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blend. The release of our ‘reds’ was well received and enjoyed by all. There are still some cases left for the ardent red-wine lovers.

Meanwhile a lot of work has been going on in the vineyard – rewiring, binding, spraying, and generally preparing it for the next season. We are now also drawing on the extensive experience of a team of workers from a vineyard across the mountain and, where possible, have passed this expertise on to other grape growers in Hout Bay and have subsequently forged a close relationship with Vineyard on Victoria.

The big news is that Hout Bay has officially been declared a ward, meaning that all wines produced from grapes grown within the demarcated area may rightfully be called ‘wine-of-origin Hout Bay’ (as opposed to previously only being able to lay claim to Coastal or Western Cape). We hope this will have an enormously positive impact on Hout Bay as a tourist destination and assist in the marketing of the more significant vineyards in the valley.

At this point allow us to introduce the diverse personalities that make up our family of wines: our bubbly is called ‘Klasiek by Catherine’; our Sauvignon Blanc is named ‘Crispy White’; our rosé is endearingly termed ‘Blush’; our red cultivars are known as ‘Mooi Rooi’, and our flagship red wine bears the heavenly name ‘Petrus’. Hopefully by next year all bottles will be labelled as such!

The next open day will take place on Saturday, 29 November from noon onwards when we will be releasing our 2006 Cap Classique as well as this year’s Sauvignon Blanc and dry rosé. You and your families and friends, and their friends and their friends’ friends and their friends etc., are invited to bring a picnic basket along, make yourselves comfortable under the blue-gum trees or on the lawn and enjoy our quality wines and bubbly (the rustic interior of the barn has been placed on standby should the weather be unfavourable). If you don’t have much time, be sure to at least pop in for a moment!

We hope to replicate the enormous success of last year’s summer opening and, as quantities are unlimited this time, would love to see a huge turn out. It will be an opportunity for you to stock up on bubbly for Christmas and New Year, and to replenish your wine rack for those warm summer evenings

Please invite your friends to subscribe to our mailing list by going to our website at www.houtbayvineyards.co.za and clicking on Newsletter Subscription.