About us

Topiary Wines, a Franschhoek-based winery owned and run by world-acclaimed Burgundy producer Philippe COLIN (from Chassagne-Montrachet).

History

Topiary Wineswas originally a fruit farm called La Tramontane until 2005, when previous owner built a cellar and a tasting room and launched Topiary. In August 2014, acclaimed Burgundy producer Philippe Colin (also one of the guardians of the famous Colin-Deléger vineyards in Chassagne-Montrachet) became enchanted with the 64­-hectare farm, and purchased the estate.

The landscape surrounding this boutique winery is dominated by the dramatic Klein Drakenstein mountains. Topiary Wines occupies a gently sloping lower mountain slope at the Wemmershoek Mountain’s foothills, among the fynbos and fauna of Franschhoek Wetlands, bordered on the North and South by low sandstone ridges. The estate greatly benefits from the surrounding mountain ranges (Hottentots Holland and Simonsberg) which form a wind-generating funnel that cools the vineyards, and results in even ripening and a pronounced elegance in the wines.

All the soils on the estate are sandy –products of Table Mountain sandstone and quartzite (Clovelley, Cartref, Glenrosa, Fernwood, Witfontein and La Motte). A thorough soil analysis was conducted in 1998 before planting 20 hectares of vineyards, and the data was used to select the perfect varieties (Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay) and clones for each individual block.

The winery can process approximately 64 tons of grapes utilizing a sophisticated sorting line to ensure the best quality grapes are selected. Once the grapes have been sorted, they are put into satellite tanks and transferred to fermentation tanks via a gravity pulley system, before undergoing further aging. To both remain true to the farm’s original fruit farm status and create a biodiverse environment for flora and fauna to thrive, the remainder of the farm not under vine is planted to plum trees. Namesake, beautiful and carefully crafted topiary sculptures line the driveway, both welcoming and impressing visitors alike.

Vineyard & Terroir

We have our 2ha Chardonnay planted on steep rocky slopes behind the winery with 8ha Shiraz and 10ha Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaking & Aging

12 months in French oak barrels

At The Winery

Topiary tasting room is open 08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday.

Cellar tours and tastings outside normal hours are available upon appointment.

Topiary also has 3 fantastic new guest cottages. They are brand new and each cottage has a king size bed, DSTV, kitchenette, en suite bathroom, braai facilities and a deck with a stunning view of the valley.

The cost is from R1200 per cottage per night 

We also host weddings and functions in the tasting centre and gardens which have been developed with the topiary plant theme and boasts 30 magnificent plant designs. Children are welcome and the tasting centre is wheelchair friendly.

Press & Awards

We are proud of getting good reviews by British writer Tim Atkin and 4.5 stars from Platter’s for our 2017 Chardonnay.