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News from Hoopenburg Wines
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Time to enjoy a fine bottle of Hoopenburg wine with good food and friends

The very good news is that the 2003 harvest is one of the best ever. This is not only our opinion, most viticulturists and winemakers fully agree.

After a very slow and nail biting winter, we finally had our rains during the month of August. We are happy to say that our water supplies have been nicely refilled, and we are now looking forward for the vines to bud during spring.
Most of you wine lovers are probably aware that all the grapes cultivated at Hoopenburg come from bush vines. With careful planning each vineyard forms a shrub (unlike the trellised or hedge vines) that protects the grapes from sunlight. By keeping the grapes cool, it prevents the sugar and acid balance from being distorted and maximises concentrated flavours and colours. The shrub also enables the grapes to ripen in its own little microclimate.

Our family is more than ever dedicated to wine culture and wine farming. Viticulture & winemaking, and sales & marketing are managed by Dad and Mom respectively, while our children are phasing themselves into the world of wine at quite a pace.

Eldest daughter, Inke, has completed her degree at the University of Stellenbosch and is currently in Beaune, France, where she has enrolled for a Wine Negotiante course (marketing and distribution of wine). Ezanne is a second year student in viticulture at Stellenbosch University and also assists dad in the vineyard and cellar. Son, Ernst, is in grade 9 and is doing the Cape Wine Academy’s Preliminary Wine Course as an extra subject at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.

We have released the 2003 Sauvignon Blanc in May, and the fact that two thirds of the produce have already been spoken for shows a definite confirmation of the excellent 2003 vintage.

Restaurants nationally and internationally still generate most of our sales, an indication that Hoopenburg’s wines compliment good food. Our biggest local markets are Cape Town City and the Boland, while the UK (along with the rest of Europe) dominates our export interests, taking up almost 60% of our annual production. We have also started exports to the United States as well as Japan.

To our local friends, if you are interested in receiving this newsletter via e-mail, please send us your address to info@hoopenburgwines.co.za. But much more important, we hope to see you at Hoopenburg again.

With summer approaching, and the festive season around the corner, it certainly is time to enjoy a fine bottle of Hoopenburg wine with good food and friends. Cheers!

For the price list or details of the current vintages of our full range of wines available, please contact us.

Issued by: Ernst & Gwenda Gouws, Hoopenburg Winery
Tel: +27 (0) 21 884 4221/2
Email: admin@hoopenburgwines.co.za

Tel: 021 884 4904   Fax: 021 884 4904   Email: info@hoopenburg.com  
R101 Old Paarl Road Muldersvlei Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa