Multiple Gold Awards for Groote Post at the 2021 Gold Wine Awards
We asked Peter Pentz, Communications Manager at Groote Post, a few questions. He is the youngest of three Pentz generations that are currently on Groote Post. He has the privilege of being in the business with his father and grandfather.
Please tell us when your company was founded and some of its history?
Since buying Groote Post in 1972, my dad and grandad later added the adjoining farm, the historic Klawer Valley, and today the combined farms total 2 800 hectares. In 1904 my great grandfather founded the Union Dairy in Cape Town. Dairy herds were established over time in Tokai, Philippi, and Darling (Groote Post). My granddad received the prestigious South African Agricultural Writers National Farmer of the Year Award for 1998 for his excellence in dairy farming. In 2001 our family decided to sell off our prize Holsten herd to concentrate solely on the production of world-class wine. Our first wine was produced in 1999, and what journey it has been.
What are some of the unique features of your company?
As a wine farm, we want to be a tourist destination where people can spend the day. We offer an array of activities. Visitors can start their day on a game drive where we take them through our 2 000 hectares game camp, home to indigenous species such as kudu, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, bontebok, springbok, quaggas, eland, and gemsbok. It includes a stop in the vineyards, overlooking Table Mountain, with Cap Classique and cheese. After the drive, visitors can savour our wines during a wine tasting followed by lunch at Hilda’s Kitchen. For those who want to take an afternoon walk, they can go to our bird hide or wander on the nature walk.
What do you think are unique about the products you have?
Unique aspects and cool climatic conditions of the Darling Hills yield superlative fruit. Our wines are produced to reflect the uniqueness of our vineyards. The highest vineyard on the farm is planted on the Kapokberg which is 5km (as the crow flies) to the Atlantic ocean, giving our vineyards cooler climate conditions to grow.
What are some of the unique features of your Cellar and your philosophy?
Our cellar and tasting room is in an old VOC fort, used in the early 1800s. This fort is restored to its original form and declared a national monument. Our winemaking philosophy can be captured through our red wine called Salt of the Earth – meaning true to oneself and being authentic.
What do you think is your distinct advantage or reason for your success?
Our success can be attributed to hard work and passion. Teamwork is the essence of Groote Post’s success. It is the thousand things every staff member does each day that make the company a success.
Where does your company fit on the global stage?
We export 30% of our wines to different global countries. Our wines are available in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Belgium, Channel Island, Denmark, Germany, the USA, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Do you perhaps have some innovations in the pipeline?
Customers can be on the lookout for new limited release offerings, as well as one or two surprises. Further digital innovation is the order of the day.
Contact person: Inge Venter
Email address: wine@grootepost.co.za
Contact number: 022 492 2825
Website address: https://www.grootepost.co.za
Facebook page: https:// www.facebook.com/GrootePost
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/grootepost/