Making Biblical wine

As to wine at Delta, the Solms family had been making it in Germany long before the first Solms left for southern Africa seven generations before Mark, Delta's current owner was born. Mark took over in 2002 and set about learning what he could about wine making, not just from modern technology but from Biblical times. He told me he felt that the art of making wine for the senators and pharaohs of the ancient world died with, among other things, the the Barbarian Invasion of Rome. What survived during their occupation was how to make house wine. Well, what else would you serve to barbarians?

I didn't mention that at least some of the invaders were Celts and probably drank whisky.

Let me get back to the theme, the benefits of Mark’s researches into the methods of the ancients enhance his new wine, a Shiraz Afrikana to be launched in September.

At that time, 2002, there were three Delta products to choose from, all containing blends of the Rhône type grapes Mark has grown to supplement the traditional Cape varieties, believing Rhône vines are more suited to the Cape’s dry summers than those originating from the wetter climate and more generous soils of France.

My wife was with me and enjoying Mark's company and, hereabouts, there was more to come. 

www.solms-delta.co.za

Delta Winery History at every turn

I'd often passed the Delta winery on my way from Stellenbosch to Franschhoek but when I eventually found my way there I found the winery worth a visit but the people fascinating. The turn off is just after crossing the Dwaarse River bridge on the Franschhoek road and lies at the end of a long driveway. The first person I met was Tracey Randle, a vivacious young ‘girl next door’, who already had a master’s degree in history and archaeology and was busy with a PhD. The museum she was in charge of had its beginnings in the Mark Solms, the owner's interest in archaeology and his desire to tell the real story of the Cape of Good Hope in a way that people could relate to. Mark was, at that time, and may still be, a professor who consulted at Groote Schuur. Mark sought advice from historians, archaeologists and conservation architects and when Dr Antonia Malan looked the place over she commented that the reason for the distance between the old wine cellar, which housed the museum, and the main house being more than normal was probably because there had been a building in between. That's only the beginning. There's more history and historical events being played out at Delta than you could shake a stick at.

The picture is what the archaeologists found between the main house and the museum. 

www.solms-delta.co.za