ADVERTORIAL– LABORIE, THE proudly South African wine brand with an affinity for French traditions because of its established French roots, is reflecting on an exceptional year.
By being inspired by beauty and those who exemplify the brand’s ethos of ‘La Grande Vie’ – the great life – Laborie has managed to attract a loyal following from wine lovers and respect from even the fiercest wine critics.
This month, it is the words of French author Annie Ernaux, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2022, which resonates with Laborie’s energetic spirit – notably this line from one of the author’s celebrated books: “She teaches me that the world is made to be pounced on and enjoyed and that there is absolutely no reason at all to hold back.”
It is this vivacious attitude, evident in Laborie’s range of effervescent and acclaimed Cap Classiques, its equally awarded range of white and red still wines, as well as a layered fortified wine, which has landed it multiple awards in 2022.
Notably, Laborie Chenin Blanc 2022 attracted a coveted Platinum award from the Michelangelo Wine Awards, flanked by a suitably impressive Double Gold for the Laborie Rosé 2022. Laborie’s acclaimed and popular Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique 2016 once again proved its exceptional value by taking Double Gold and Gold at the Veritas Awards, as well the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge respectively. This, in addition to numerous Gold and Silver awards from esteemed wine competitions like Sakura Wine Awards, The Trophy Wine Show and SA Wine Awards in London.
Laborie’s head winemaker Kobus van der Merwe, alongside assistant winemaker Sacha Muller and viticulturist Ursula Lenee are the formidable team behind Laborie wines.
Together they ensure that Laborie’s characteristic excellence is honoured during every step of the winemaking journey. Grapes are sourced from the Western Cape’s finest vineyard sites and in the cellar they are treated with minimal intervention which allows for wines that are expressive and timeless and which honours a vini- and viticultural history older than 300 years.
This pursuit for quality is woven into the very DNA of Laborie’s wines.
The Laborie homestead and farm in Paarl has a heritage stretching back to 1691, with links to the prosperous French Tailleferts of the district of La Bri, in the Poitou-Charentes area of France. Here, beauty and memorable experiences represent the Laborie way of life. It is situated at the foot of the imposing Paarl moment, and against this backdrop wine lovers can experience Laborie wines to their fullest – whether it is wine tasting in one of the pristine historical buildings, or at the famous Stoep restaurant or a casual picnic.
Those who prefer to linger longer can opt to book into the farm’s plush accommodation options.
“We are proud to be the team to respect Laborie’s legacy with wines that consistently impress wine critics across the world – but we are honoured to make wines that consumers love to engage with, wines that they often pick to include in their most treasured memories. Wines that need to be pounced on and enjoyed!” says Kobus.
Image supplied (Multiple award winning Laborie’s Wines).
