At Londolozi we realize that there are few things as wonderful as a beautiful glass of wine after watching a leopard hunt. We also realize that wine is more than an alcoholic liquid, it is a representation of all that is good with life. Wine speaks to conviviality, friendship, refinement and what the French so beautifully call “joie de vivre” – The Joy of Life.
For this reason it was important to us that our house wine be a representation of the values of quality, passion, family, and connection with nature that we hold so close. And that is exactly what we found when we sat down to our first ever bottle of Waterford.
Waterford Wines Entrance
Waterford wines have quickly become a part of the Londolozi culture. And it is not only our guests that have benefited from the introduction of this fine wine to our cellar. In truth the deliciousness of the wine was such that the Londolozi management team developed a day called “Waterford Wednesday”.In the late afternoon the Londoz team was invited to gather on the tree camp deck as the sun went down to simply come together and enjoy each others company and talk about ways we could advance our guests experience. The wonder of the wine we drank on these beautiful afternoons was like a refined fuel that infused us with a desire to improve our culture of service at every juncture. And I wont lie, I believe the Waterford chardonnay was a critical ingredient to the very high attendance these afternoons received.
Waterford Wine Barrels
Recently a team from Londolozi was kindly invited down to South Africa’s finest wine region Stellenbosch to enjoy the festivities of the annual Waterford wine harvest.
The Waterford Farm in the early morning
'Unplugged' - The theme for the 2012 Harvest
Waterford is one of South Africa’s most beautiful wine estates. Nestled among the cape Fold Mountains, with manicured grounds and rich soils the vineyards are a wonder to walk around. The buildings are beautiful with strong influences from rural Provence; pale yellow walls merge seamlessly with trimmed lavender hedges. But like all places it is the people that imbibe the space with its unique character, warmth and charm.
Nestled beneath the Helderberg mountains in Stellenbosch, it is truly on of the capes most spectacular wine farms.
Orchads and Lavender line the entrance into the Waterford Venue.
The Arnold and Ord families have filled the entire estate with soul and warmth. This is not an estate where wine production is a functional pastime but rather a place where the creation of wine is an extension of the passion of the people who make its production possible. Khalil Gibran said, “When you are born your work is put in your heart” . I didn’t fully understand that statement until I met Waterford’s wine maker Kevin Arnold.
I don't think that I have ever seen such good looking grapes in my life. As if lightly misted just for the camera, it is little wonder that the wine tastes as good as the grapes look...
Loading the picked grapes after an early morning picking session with the Waterford family.
The harvest weekend is a living monument to what Waterford is all about. It is a weekend where friends and family come together. Where the picking of grapes takes people back to the earth. It is also a time of gratitude and thanks to the creator for the wonderful bounty we enjoy. All of this takes place with ease and tasteful attention to detail that is central to the Waterford experience.
As if by tradition, a flute of Champagne is poured into the Vats to celebrate the Harvest and then the grape stomping begins. It is worth getting in early as trying to avoid getting into the vats will only prove futile...
Everyone from the owners to the guests and the staff are dumped into the vats to take their turn at stomping the grapes. It's a messy business but somebody's got to do it!
True to form the tasteful attention to detail ranges from the Macaroons on offer to the Lavender lined avenue up to the Waterford Venue.
Watershed at Waterford. An incredible 'Unplugged' performance by one of South Africa's most loved bands.
The Londolozi team who were privileged to enjoy Waterford’s harvest weekend realized deeper than ever before that not only do we love this wine, but also we love what it stands for.
We also love the people who make it.
Thanks to Waterford for an amazing 2102 Harvest.
Much Love,
The Londolozi family.
Written by: Boyd Varty
Photographed by: Rich Laburn
Boyd you took what I felt all week end and put it into words! really wonderful…
A huge THANK YOU to all at Waterford for the most mind blowing day!!!
Rich some great pics!
Great work and our thanks to the ever growing CREATIVE TEAM
We love what you do thankyou Waterford !!!
Shan and Dave
to Kate G.,
Boyd’s writing skills are a tribute to you as a teacher. How wonderful that his parents saw the value of keeping both children in the wild and found such a grand tutor. His description of the meaning of wine is eloquent.
Boyd, We look forward to your book.
I loved your article post.Really thank you! Really Great.
Pleasure Desirae, glad you enjoyed so much. Thanks for commenting 🙂 rich