ABOUT THE WINELANDS welcomes Nora Sperling-Thiel, who is the eldest daughter of Patriarch and South African wine industry legend, the late Michael Hans “Spatz” Sperling. Delheim is a family owned wine estate, WWF-SA Conservation Champion, acknowledged as an industry leader committed to conservation, responsible production practices and integrated environmental management systems.
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DELHEIM – WORTH THE JOURNEY
About Delheim – 80 Years of Sustainable Winemaking
Delheim is owned by the Sperling family, an estate high on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, 50 km from Cape Town. Eldest son Victor Sperling and eldest daughter Nora Sperling-Thiel serve as Directors of the company and live on the farm with their families. They nurture a strong culture of sustainable development on the farm and within the community. More here.
The history of the farm stems back to 1699, initially known as De Driesprong, and passed through a number of hands over the years.
Hans Otto Hoheisen purchased the farm in January 1938 and commenced farming with Cape Riesling, Pinot Noir, Cabernet and Hanepoot. The farm was named to honour his wife Deli, who stood by him through thick and thin. Delheim – Deli’s home – was born in 1949.
In 1951, Micheal “Spatz” Sperling, nephew of Deli, arrived in the Cape from Germany to assist with all farming activities. Self taught winemakers through trial and error, he began winning numerous awards establishing himself as a serious winemaker and and pioneer. In 1975, in order to complete in the “super” red wine market Spatz found and bought suitable land closeby.
The Vera Cruz (Vera’s Cross) vineyards were named after Mrs Spatz. It has been suggested that it commemorates the cross and suffering she has had to bear since marrying Spatz in 1965!
Interesting to note is that Spatz’s first vintage in 1952 grossed a total of 18 tons; today the cellar has capacity for some 1200 tons annually. After 60 years of hard work and dedication, Spatz became synonymous with the name Delheim. Instrumental in developing the South African wine industry, Spatz, together with Frans Malan and Niel Joubert of Spier, started the Stellenbosch Wine Route in 1971, two years before the Wine of Origin legislation was introduced. Click here to learn more about the story of the Late Michael Hans “Spatz” Sperling
The Vineyards – Two mountain properties farmed as one
A decision was made to re-align vineyards with the estate’s vision and vineyards mismatched to the terrior were uprooted and replanted. On the property “Vera Cruz” or “Delvera”, Cabernet Sauvignon, are predominantly grown as bush vines and today aged between 15 and 37 years old. These vines thrive in the deep, red soils, as do Merlot and Cabernet Franc. New vineyards include Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Follow on Facebook
Delheim Award-Winning Wines
At Delheim we produce a range of award-winning wines, led by the majestic Grand Reserve, which since its release in 1981, has been honoured with much prestigious recognition. Our ever-popular Pinotage Rosé (the 1st of its kind to be produced in South Africa in 1976) and the quirky Spatzendreck dessert wine are just some of the favourites which have helped to turn Delheim into a household name. Shop Online Here
Sustainability Seal
The Delheim Pinotage Rosé was one of the first wines in South Africa to sport the world’s first sustainability seal as a guarantee of eco-friendly production.
Delheim Cellardoor
At Delheim we are extremely proud of our atmospheric “Downstairs” cellardoor, with its famous cobwebbed window. Very little has changed here over the years since it became the birthplace of the Stellenbosch Wine Route in 1971. The patriarch of the Sperling family, Michael “Spatz” Sperling, was one of the three founder members of this wine route, from which all the other wine routes in the country originated. It is therefore imperative that we continue to provide guests with a truly unique South African hospitality experience, and to make them feel at home, in order to share our belief that a visit to Delheim really is “worth the journey”
Garden Restaurant and Riverside Picnics
German gemütlichkeit in a stunning setting with beautiful view across to Table Mountain in the distance on clear days. The restaurant offers a selection of dishes ranging from cheese platters to traditional German and South African food. Enjoy picnics at the Riverside during Spring and Summer. Reservations and other enquiries, please contact +27218884607 or email restaurant@delheim.com
The Love of Wild Mushrooms
It has been 10 years since Delheim first began spreading the love of wild mushrooms, making it a pioneer in the region when it opened its forests to organised forages. The wild hunts were started in 2007 by Nora Thiel.
In those years, people were even less familiar with mushroom foraging than today,” she says. She showed a few people how it’s done and the idea for organised forages was born. “It took three years before we could get enough people together as interest grew,” Nora recalls.
Delheim Events
From Mushroom Foraging and Delheim Harvest Festival to Jazz and Cheese Fondues and Conferences, Delheim is definitely “WORTH THE JOURNEY” – More about events at Delheim here
ABOUT THE WINELANDS
