Hillock Wines is located just off Route 62, on the farm Mymering in the fertile Dwarsrivier Valley at the foot of the To-werkop mountains. The farm is surrounded by nature reserves, including the Towerkop and Anysberg reserves.
Award-winning wine expert, Mark Carmichael-Green, who is Cellar Master for Hillock Wines and also lectures at the Cape Wine Academy, presented a wine tasting with Hillock winemaker Duan Brits and owner Andy Hillock. Guests were treated to a food and wine pairing by chef Francois Ferreira and entertained by the music of Ladismith native, Willim Welsyn. Port Elizabeth photographer Karl Schoemaker's camera captured the memorable moments.
Andy Hillock is a well-known surgeon from Port Elizabeth who together with partner, viticulturist Riaan Steyn, built up the Hillock Vineyard over many years of hard work. The 55ha farm started out as a table grape and fruit farm, but today it is also home to blocks of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Shiraz and Ruby Cabernet.
Andy has three great passions in life: medicine, flying and farming. As a young man he flew Harvards in the air force. Next came his career as a surgeon. And finally it was time to pursue his third dream: farming to make wine. From this passion Hillock's flagship was born, the Barrel Roll.
The Hillock label may be new, but it is already garnering recognition with all four wines winning awards at The Klein Karoo Markklaar Wine Show 2011 and the Klein Karoo Young Wine Show 2011.
To the future drinkers of his wine, Andy says: "I hope that you enjoy this wine as much as I have enjoyed making it."
All Hillock Wines are made, bottled and labelled at Mymering. The Hillock tasting room is open from 10:00 to 04.30 daily.
The wines are available online at www.hillockwines.com, at selected outlets in Ladismith and Port Elizabeth, and will also soon be available in Cape Town and other major centres.
Mymering is a working guest farm with four star guest accommodation. Each unit is themed with stylish interiors, and is equipped with private plunge pools or an outdoor Jacuzzi under the Karoo stars.
(Wendy Masters)
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Andy Hillock welcomes the guests to the launch of Hillock Wines, at the Mymering Guest House near Ladismith. Foto’s: Karl Schoemaker
