Cuisine Wine

Mountford Estate

Setting
This boasts one of the grandest driveway entrances in the region: you snake up a poplar-lined avenue, flanked by a gently sloping vineyard towards a chic, corrugated iron-clad homestead that opens out to a large limestone courtyard lined with moss-covered stone walls and lavender hedges. Beyond that is a beautifully manicured lawn that sweeps down and becomes one with the vineyard.The quaint, shed-like tasting room is at the entrance to the courtyard and you can sit outside and enjoy a glass among the roses and raised herb gardens.

Things to know
Established in 1991 and purchased in 2006 by Kathryn Ryan and Kees Zeestraten, the vineyards are predominantly planted in pinot noir and chardonnay, with small plantings of riesling and other aromatics. Local wine hero Theo Coles came on board as winemaker for the 2014 vintage.

Our picks
Don’t miss Mountford’s Hommage à l’Alsace, a blend of five grapes: gewurztraminer, muscat, pinotgris, riesling and a mystery fifth grape. The Gradient Pinot Noir has a distinctive lavender perfume.

Plus
Photographers converge at the top of the property’s highest vines – the views are breathtaking.