Sixty years is the difference between the Big Band era and Bublé; a bachelor and a grandfather; a patchwork of farms and a world-renowned wine route. It’s also the time that’s passed since wine industry legend Michael ‘Spatz’ Sperling first turned the soils at De Driesprong farm, as Delheim wine farm was known, on Thursday 19 April 1951.

With no former knowledge of wine, or farming of any kind, Spatz soon turned a humble fruit farm into an iconic Stellenbosch wine estate, successfully raising its profile and that of the wider industry; and importantly, his four children, two of whom manage the farm today.

On the eve of the anniversary – which coincides with the 40th year of the Stellenbosch Wine Route1, an entity co-founded by their father, it only seemed fitting to Nora and Victor Sperling to create a wine in honour of Spatz; he never one to let an excuse to celebrate pass him by.

The wine of course would need to reflect the character of the man – feisty, quirky and fun, but ever the gentleman. The pair chose to make a red blend,
which fitted in nicely as an easy-drinking partner to the legendary Heerenwijn; their father’s own Kneipwein2, tabled to make a return this year to the Delheim range.

The Family Blend is elegant, fruit-rich and spicy, with mocha and blackberry flavours and silky tannins to finish. Malbec makes up the largest part at
57%, with the balance being Merlot and Cabernet Franc in roughly even amounts.

Unpretentious and easy drinking, the blend will be available at Pick ‘n Pay nationwide, a loyal estate partner of many years’ standing, from the end of
May for a gemütlich3 R69.99. A limited number of bottles have been made to commemorate the event.

So raise your glass to Delheim’s patriarch, and to your own father, around a cosy, food-laden table on Father’s Day. As the notes on The Family Blend instruct – Say cheers! Here’s to the next sixty years!

REVIEW BY CATHY MARSTON, www.food24.com

I wish my family made wine! Especially this one – an intriguing Bordeaux blend of mainly Malbec with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It’s made to honour Spatz Sperling’s 60 years at Delheim and to celebrate 40 years since he first set up the Stellenbosch wine route as well. I must say, I always find the Delheim wines ridiculously good value and this is no exception – you’d be hard-pressed to spend your R70 bucks better than to buy this bottle of soft, juicy, concentrated red!

 

Categories: DELHEIM

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