The Kleinood Way | Farm Experience

chapter i

IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME

Marcel Proust

Our journey begins in the tasting room, situated in the old oak lane. Upon arrival, greet the ducks and enjoy a refreshment as we study the lay of the land and begin to tell the story of Kleinood Farm.

chapter ii

GROWTH OF THE SOIL

Knut Hamsun

The dusty farm road leads us to the elusive Block 7, from which we make the Kleinood Tamboerskloof John Spicer Syrah. Enroute we discuss precision viticulture, hands-on bio dynamic farming, and how micro-terroir dictates the management of each half-hectare block.

chapter iii

THE SUN ALSO RISES

Ernest Hemingway

Wander through an ancient olive grove with irises and fynbos, into a narrow pathway leading through a dense and diverse foral bouquet planted for and dedicated to the bees. Then, mind your head, when we dip into the deep shade where clivias, tree ferns and camelias grow, haphazardly, under a dense canopy of wisteria, roses and petria. Once back into the light, stop to smell the roses.

Pass through the little arbour, to arrive at the farm dam, home to many species of birds, bugs, frogs and fish. Walk along the narrow path around the dam to the big angel to pause and take in the view of the farm and the majestic mountains. See the finch nests, hear them twitter, listen for the call of the heron, the wild geese, the frogs, the cormorants, and the fish eagle. Remember this moment when you listen to The Kleinood Nocturne.

chapter iv

THE SECRET GARDEN

Frances Hodgson Burnett

On our way to the komposjaart, where de Boerin imagines and makes her goodly wares, we pass through a secretive scented garden. Here too you will see two rows of Trebbiano vines planted for making Balsamic vinegar.

When we get to the door with the brooms, we knock and step into the realm of de Boerin, where five happy women work, talk, dream and make. They will welcome us and happily guide us through their magical world – The Honey Room, The Fabric Room & The Flower Room.

Smell the sweet heaps of compost, made from garden cuttings and pressed grapes. We see the nursery, where young vines are nurtured to maturity to replace weak ones in the vineyard. We pass a few beehives settled in a bed of fynbos and succulents, to reach the peaceful paddock, where we feed the donkeys. Mind your fingers.

chapter v

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Maurice Sendak

We enter the forest and wander through parts of a pristine Afromontane haven. Listen and look for signs of its wild inhabitants – buck, porcupine, rooikat, wild ducks, trout, otters… Pause where the two rivers meet and carry on as one. This is an ongoing project, to keep a precious part of the farm wild and free.

chapter vi

WITHIN A BUDDING GROVE

Marcel Proust

We pass by the olive grove, planted with two hectares of Italian varieties used for making oil, and through the perfumery garden, a small experimental biosphere.

chapter vii

THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE

C. S. Lewis

We soon reach a glass house in the shade of the old oaks, filled with green curiosities grown, collected and cared for over the years. Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?

Then into a secretive little stone cottage filled with the most extraordinary objects born from the imagination of de Boerin. Here, in the shop, you will be left to play.

chapter viii

THE GOD OF SMALL THINGS

Arundhati Roy

The winery is the heart of the farm. We will follow the journey of a Syrah grape through a world of tanks and pipes and barrels and bottles and corks and labels… The winemaker, Lawrie Moore, will inform and entertain us with his love of winemaking and show us how tradition meets technology in this winery. See Kleinood’s maximum-hands-per-bottle philosophy in practice.

chapter ix

FAR FROM THE MADDENING CROWD

Thomas Hardy

Finally, take a seat at the tasting room and savour the fruits of our labour. Enjoy a seasonal platter alongside a tasting of the full flight of Tamboerskloof wines. Linger longer over a cup of coffee.