The Wijnskool is an
initiative by acclaimed winemaker, Cape Winemakers Guild member and bon vivant
Bartho Eksteen which started in 2010 with the mission and vision of educating
and enlightening the next generation of Wine Industry role players already at
high school level. The project started off in a derelict building at Boland
Agricultural High School’s farm, Langerug, Paarl, where a micro winery was
established and 30 students from the school annually have the opportunity to attend
“A Year with Wine” -course, following the winemaking process from the vineyard
to the bottle, attend lectures and guided field trips.
Hard work, many late nights,
litres of sweat, sticky grape juice and lots of fun make for a team spirit
which is hard to beat. In the process two top quality wine ranges are produced
in compliance with IPW regulations which are sold to help fund the project and
maintain sustainability - all themed with school-related names. The process
from the vineyard to the bottle is implemented to demonstrate to the students environmentally
friendly and resource sparingly methods to produce wines of the highest
quality.
Very soon after Wijnskool
took off, internationally acclaimed wine courses, WSET, were added to
Wijnskool’s portfolio to increase its range of services and to reach and
educate a broader student base.
Wijnskool has recently
initiated a relationship with C.F.P.P.A., a wine educational institution in Beaune, France, to establish
exchange programmes and internships for our students and entrepreneurs.
Due to phenomenal interest in
and expansion of the project and limitations at Langerug, Wijnskool acquired Attaquaskloof
Farm in the breathtaking Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus early in 2015 and
is in the process of settling the winemaking project, educational programmes and WESP on the
farm.
Wijnskool Sauvignon Blanc
Dusty, flinty gunpowder aromas elegantly underlined by green
apple fruitiness. Cape South Coast fruit buffed up with a small percentage of
wooded Semillon.
Pairs well with shellfish, fish dishes and salads.
The wine is ready to be enjoyed while young and fresh but will develop complexity over the next 5 years in the bottle.
UPC #: 6009802308097
Awards & Ratings:
* John Platter Guide – 31/2 stars (89 rating)
Wijnskool Shiraz
Smoky, soft elegant black berry fruit with masculine polished
leather backbone. The immediate drinkability is surprising – vibey, every sip
asks for more.
Pairs well with grilled meats, hearty meat dishes.
Enjoy
now or over the next 10 years.
UPC #: 6009802308080
Awards & Ratings:
* John Platter Guide – 31/2 stars (89 rating)
Bartho Eksteen Meester Sauvignon Blanc
Succulent melon ripeness, fabulous minerality, terroir-driven
Upper Hemel-en-Aarde classiness. Complex, deep and with a full mid-palate due
to the incorporation of a wooded portion of Semillon.
Pairs well with shellfish, salads, light seafood dishes,
ceviche.
The wine is ready to be enjoyed now, but will develop complexity in the bottle over the next 5-7 years.
UPC #: 6009802308141
Awards & Ratings:
* Rating 90 points
Bartho Eksteen Ouskool
A well balanced food wine with a surprisingly creamy aftertaste.
Expressing masterful crafting in this Shiraz-Mourvèdre-Grenache-Viognier blend
to highlight elements of masculinity, leather, cigar box from Shiraz,
earthiness, dark ruby red color from Mourvèdre, fresh red berry fruit from
Grenache and spice from Viognier. Vintage will determine exact blend components.
Pairs well with roasts, hearty meat dishes, pasta dishes.
The wine is ready to be enjoyed now, but will develop complexity in the bottle over the next 15 years.
UPC #: 6009802308158
Awards & Ratings:
* Rating 91 points
Note on awards:
Michelangelo uses the 100 point scoring system, and for a wine to receive a silver medal, it must have an average score of between 86 - 92.
Veritas uses the 20 point scoring system, and for a wine to receive a silver medal, it must have an average score of 16/20.
Legal