Domaine des Dieux – ‘Place of the Gods’ – began as a dream, after many visits to Burgundy and a love that developed for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Champagne.

In 2002 we found a small piece of land, 28 ha to be exact, nestled in the foothills of the highest mountain peak – Babylonstoren – in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, where it has been said that heaven and earth meet.

We were sure to buy a farm that lent itself to the growing of premium Pinot noir and Chardonnay, amongst other cultivars that were carefully chosen & matched to terroir. It is astonishing that in a valley which produces such premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, no-one else had yet produced a méthode champenoise styled bubbly, we pride ourselves on being the first.

Over the past decade we have established ourself as a boutique cellar that produces small volumes of premium award winning wines. Our portfolio currently consists of 7 wines, with our Flagships being our 2 MCC’s Rose of Sharon and Claudia, as well as our Josephine Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry bandol styled Rose and Syrah Mourvedre blend. What was once a dream is now a reality.

We have taken a different winemaking approach on our wines, instead of employing 1 winemaker we use different consultants on each of the wines, people we respect and believe to be at the top of their game with that particular varietal. It allows us to get the most dedicated and passionate approach to making that particular wine.

Our wines excel in the restaurant environment when paired with food and we encourage them to be enjoyed with a meal whenever possible. We have also taken on a philosophy of bottle ageing our wines before release to our clients, as we all know how difficult it is to put away a good bottle of wine until it is drinking at its best.

Our 2 Methode Cap Classiques embody the joy of Celebration. Claudia – ‘the celebration of Life’ – is a bubbly that is meant to be opened not only on grand occasions, but also to celebrate life’s special moments in between. Rose of Sharon – ‘the celebration of Love’ is based on a love story. In the Song of Soloman, in the bible, Soloman compares the beauty of his love to the rose of Sharon, which blossoms in the planes of Sharon in the Israeli desert, only when it rains.

When we make our MCC’s, our focus is very much on premium quality, replicating that of a French Champagne. Both MCC’s are bottle aged for 4 years on the lease, and an additional 6 months to 1 year on the cork, resulting in our MCC’s having about 5 years of ageing before we release to the public. This produces more finessed, elegant MCC’s, with delicate bubbles and mousse.

In anticipation for December, we have recently renovated our tasting room in the vineyards, where we enjoy hosting small groups of wine enthusiasts, adding a champagne deck as well as a picnic terrace for those who want to linger longer and enjoy a bottle of bubbly while taking in the views.

TODAY’S QUESTION: The rose of Sharon, blossoms only when it _ _ _ _ _ .