A 22 hectare vineyard consisting out of 47 different varieties might sound like a small drop in a 2000 litre barrel, considering there are over 10,000 varieties of wine grapes existing in the world today, but the Bosman Vine Garden is in fact the only vine growing facility of its size in the world. Even more impressive is the 140 different clones of the various cultivars!
Established in 2006 by the Bosman family, in collaboration with Vititec, the first goal of the project was to use plant material from this vineyard in order to propagate high quality vines in their vine nursery, Lelienfontein Vine Growers. Today it’s an important source of a whole new generation of information on flavour profiles and viticultaral characteristics, such as yield, resistance to botrytis and millerandage.
During a recent visit to this one of a kind estate, situated in the Upper-Hemel-en Aarde Valley, I met viticulturist Johan Viljoen, who took me on a tour through the Vine Garden. We started at the sauvignon blanc block, which boasts 8 different clones. It was fascinating to taste the various flavour profiles of the different clones. Clone SB3 and clone SB7 for example, tasted more like green pepper, fig and grass, where as clone SB11 steered more towards the tropical fruit side.
The general recommendation of most panels is to plant a combination of various clones. SB7, SB11, SB242 and SB316 can be grouped as higher yielding and good production clones. SB7 and SB11 were found to have the best flavour profiles.
After the stroll through the various vineyards, it was time to taste the De Bos Vineyards range. Handcrafted from vine to wine, a model empowerment initiative between the eighth-generation Bosman family and the Adama Appollo Workers Trust, acknowledges the long-standing relationship with workers on the farm. Only the best fruit from vineyards in the wine regions of Hermon, Walker Bay and Wellington were selected for the making of these wines, according to winemaker Corlea Fourie. The De Bos wines are available across South Africa from leading retailers and restaurants.
A truly remarkable and informative experience! The Vine Garden initiative is not only extremely valuable for the Bosman Family, who make wine under the Bosman Family Vineyards label, but also for the rest of the South African wine industry. High quality plant material will lead to more sustainable vineyards, with a longer life span, and knowledge gained through the Vine Garden will equip grape growers and winemakers in precision vine growing and wine making.
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