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Stellenbosch - A "princely" wine was requested for the past weekend's royal wedding in Monaco, and Hempies du Toit gladly obliged by supplying top-notch Merlot from his Annandale cellars.
The well-known Stellenbosch winemaker and former Springbok rugby player said that he has known the Wittstock family for many years.
"I tried to respect their privacy. That’s why I decided not to use their wedding as a marketing platform for my wine.
"It is a big enough honour to receive such a request from Charlene’s father Mike Wittstock," said Du Toit.
Despite his modesty du Toit is proud that his wine which bears the official "Charbert" label with Albert and Charlene’s initials, graced the tables at the wedding reception. He explains that the labels were designed in France, with a French description of the wine and the story of the marriage on the back.
READ: SA wine at royal wedding in Monaco
The Merlot that was used had by chance not been bottled yet and had been maturing in vats of French oak for six years.
Besides the fact that 2005 was an excellent harvest year for red wine, it was also the year that the couple first met.
"If I have to say so myself, it is a very special wine. If it wasn't I would not have kept it in the vats for so long. The Merlot has all the characteristics of the original wines of Pomerol, France – the traditional Merlot-growing district.
"It is a soft, full bodied wine with rich red berry flavours. During the lengthy maturing process a harmony was created between the fruity and the wooden notes.
Du Toit said that he was asked to select a special wine for the wedding in November last year.
"So the idea had been with me for a while. The wine for the wedding celebrations consisted of 150 magnums. A bunch of 750ml bottles will also be available in Europe as souvenirs of the wedding."
Local wine lovers will also get a chance to sample the royal wine, since a limited amount has been kept at the farm for later sales.
The well-known Stellenbosch winemaker and former Springbok rugby player said that he has known the Wittstock family for many years.
"I tried to respect their privacy. That’s why I decided not to use their wedding as a marketing platform for my wine.
"It is a big enough honour to receive such a request from Charlene’s father Mike Wittstock," said Du Toit.
Despite his modesty du Toit is proud that his wine which bears the official "Charbert" label with Albert and Charlene’s initials, graced the tables at the wedding reception. He explains that the labels were designed in France, with a French description of the wine and the story of the marriage on the back.
READ: SA wine at royal wedding in Monaco
The Merlot that was used had by chance not been bottled yet and had been maturing in vats of French oak for six years.
Besides the fact that 2005 was an excellent harvest year for red wine, it was also the year that the couple first met.
"If I have to say so myself, it is a very special wine. If it wasn't I would not have kept it in the vats for so long. The Merlot has all the characteristics of the original wines of Pomerol, France – the traditional Merlot-growing district.
"It is a soft, full bodied wine with rich red berry flavours. During the lengthy maturing process a harmony was created between the fruity and the wooden notes.
Du Toit said that he was asked to select a special wine for the wedding in November last year.
"So the idea had been with me for a while. The wine for the wedding celebrations consisted of 150 magnums. A bunch of 750ml bottles will also be available in Europe as souvenirs of the wedding."
Local wine lovers will also get a chance to sample the royal wine, since a limited amount has been kept at the farm for later sales.
