Month: October 2018

All good things come to an end, the saying goes, and sadly this is also the case when it comes to our wines. Springfield is an Estate, which means that all wines we release must be grown, made, bottled and labeled on our farm. This means we cannot buy in any grapes, and that the vineyards we have on the farm determine the size of our production.

Whole Berry is our most popular red, and for good reason – fermented with only natural yeasts, using uncrushed, unpressed grapes, and bottled unfiltered and unfined – resulting in a juicy, classical Cabernet with velvety soft tannins, loads of black and red fruit, and a restrained, structured elegance. Despite planting more Cabernet vineyards over the years, the Whole Berry Cabernet Sauvignon still is a limited release, and so we have sadly sold out of the 2016 vintage.

The 2017 vintage will only be release end 2018/beginning of 2019 – as we are sure you know by now, we will never release a wine before it is ready. In the meantime, our 2012 vintage of the Work of Time Bordeaux blend is drinking beautifully, and might help bridge the gap while our Whole Berry is doing hard time in the bottle.

We apologize for any inconvenience caused, and can’t wait to share the new vintage with you in a couple of months time!

After what felt like the most gloriously warm weekend, driving around the farm this week it was indisputable that summer has officially arrived here on the farm. One can practically SEE the vineyard growing, with our vines positively bursting with new life.  While last week we were fighting the threat of black frost on the farm, this week it truly feels like the seasons have changed and that we can start gearing up for our 2019 vintage.

This time of year is our favourite time at the tasting room as well – the December holiday crowds and Karoo heat haven’t yet arrived, but the warm days and laid back feeling of summer is palpable. It’s the kind of weather that makes you itch to be outside, not so hot as to be uncomfortable, but warm enough to feel your bones relax in the sun.

While we do not have a restaurant on the farm, this is the perfect time of year to pack a picnic when you come for a visit – buy a cold bottle of your favourite Springfield white, and kick back and relax on our lush lawn for the afternoon. Over the years, we have seen the most interesting picnics being packed, ranging from a packet of Sour Cream & Onion crisps, to sushi, to a full Instagram-worthy spread including two huge wooden cheese boards and real cutlery. Whatever you fancy, you are more than welcome to bring a picnic basket along to relax on our lawns provided you don’t bring any other alcohol on the premises.

If you are one of the lucky souls who works flexibly or is able to plan a mid week escape, we are also now offering cellar tours during the week at 10am and 3pm. Our tours are free of charge and informal, taking about 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how many questions you have! Let us know if you are planning to visit for a cellar tour by dropping us a mail at tastingroom@springfieldestate.com

Please note that our cellar tours are on weekdays only, and will not take place between the 20th of December and the 2nd of January as the cellar will be closed for the December break.  The tasting room is open weekdays from 9am-5pm and Saturdays & public holidays from 9am-3pm. We are closed on Sundays, Christmas day, and New Years day.

Photo credit: Xand Venturas