Mellasat Winery.

 

For the last three months I have be working at small winery in Paarl called Mellasat Winery.

  

When Stephen was in his teen years. Stephen’s grandfather introduced him into the wine world and it has become a passion for Stephen ever since.  Stephen Norfolk born and bred living on his farm decided he wanted to pursue his passion for wine. It became clear to him that the East Anglia weather wasn’t the most suitable of all weathers to produce fine wines.  Stephen moved to Paarl in South Africa and bought the 1693 Dekkersvlei farm in 1996. Starting from scratch Mellasat was created and has been around for 15 years. 

I arrived on the 19^th January 2011 for three months to work on the 2011 harvest.

Work started at 6am until we finished which varied from 4 – 7pm everyday. The mornings for me don’t go hand in hand, with a few loud voices echoing in the winery on occasions. To top things off Monty the dog (dachshund), had the urge to join in with the loud shouting by barking up the tree to hunt for squirrels and Cindy the guard dog keeping everyone on the farm in order.

The evenings were great Janet the professional chef, Stephen’s wife cooking fabulous meals was definitely a good way to end a hard day of work.

During my three month work experience, I learnt and gained a lot of experience from the knowledgeable Stephen and was involved in all aspects, from grape sampling, processing, inoculations, punch downs on open fermenting bins, pumpovers, pressing and barrel work. 

Mellasat winery participates in the festival event “Ommiberg” Round the Rock – an event for wineries in Paarl allowing families from all over the Cape to have a preview of the young wines and a general fun day out for the kids too. The reason why I mentioned this was because I was involved in running the wine mastermind quiz as well as grape stomping. Keeping traditions going.

All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable three months work experience. It was definitely worthwhile and I would highly recommend this to anyone who would like to work in South Africa, to see the country and gain experience.  Email me if you are keen for next years harvest. 

White Pinotage?

Pinotage created by a South African professor at Stellenbosch University in 1929 named Abraham Perold, creating a masterpiece for the South African wine industry. Pinotage a viticulture cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsult. Cinsult also know as Hermitage.

Pinotage typically produces full-bodied, smoky, vegetal, animal notes, earthy, peppery and the odd hint or too of banana and tropical fruits.   With some of the characters in mind would you want these in a white wine? And who would ever of thought to make a White Pinotage?

White Pinotage.

Are you thinking that another mad South African professor, from Stellenbosch University tried to create another cross and call it White Pinotage? Maybe you are thinking someone made a blend of 85% Chenin Blanc and 15% Pinotage and called a White Pintoage?

But no!!! Its made by born and bred Norfolk English man named Stephen Richardson. Stephen lived in Norfolk on a large arable farm and in 1996 decided to move to Paarl and start up Mellasat Winery.  

Stephen produces this fine rare breed WHITE PINOTAGE!!! Its made from 100% Pinotage, whole punch pressed and fermented in barrel and left for six months on the lees stirring/Battonage. The Characters that I picked up where for this interesting wine where tropical fruits, banana, slightly creamy and hits of nuts.

 It was interesting as the other day I took these wines to some of my other wine makers friends house in Stellenbosch. There were a few of us, I told them that we should do this blinded.  The first thing that Sprung to there mind was “Chardonnay” then it was “Chenin Blanc”. They where all mind boggled!  How does a Pinotage resemble to any of these two varietals?

You can buy Stephen's White Pinotage in the UK plus many of his other wines.

Let me know what you think when've you had a taste?

My Wine Blog

My Wine Destinations. 

I’m travelling around the world following the harvest with the aim of becoming a winemaker. I’m currently on my third harvest in South African and have many more planned, like Germany, Italy, France and Argentina plus many more wine regions.

The reason for my blog is tell everyone about my adventures that I have experience whilst working in different wine regions, as well as telling you about the different wineries I have worked at.

Whilst I have been working at various different wineries around the world I have learnt new winemaking styles and techniques, as well as learning new topics about winemaking that I’ve personally have come across and would like to share these with you.

The map above shows you were I have so far experienced different harvests around the world.

I hope you enjoy my blog

HAPPY READING!!!!

About Me

Welcome to my Blog!

Opus One Winery

My name is Moritz Bak, I’m a wine graduate from Plumpton College/ Universtiy of Brighton.  My aim is to become a winemaker for a large winery in California.

My passion for wine came around from my grandfather and the amazing Swiss terraced vineyards covered in snow, we would always pass whilst driving to Zermatt from Geneva on the family skiing holiday. My grandfather was as very knowledgeable man and knew a lot about different wines and would always tell me interesting stories of how the wine is made and how to taste wine and the French Terroir.

I was 16 with my mindset to become a Vineyard Manager and Winemaker.  At 16 I was at boarding school called Milton Abbey School which is in Dorset close to a the town Blandford Forum.  I came up with a plan and put It forward to the Headmaster and said “ Sir I am very keen to become a Winemaker and a Vineyard Manger, would you give me permission to grow a vineyard in the plot of land in front of your house?”  “Moritz let me think about that one and come and find me tomorrow”  The following  day I went back and his answer was “yes, good Idea Moritz I’ll leave it to you, to your own devices to sort out"

Since my wild plan at boarding school, I have carried on the same career path and went on to working in Bordeaux at a winery called Chateau Bauduc in 2007, Followed by talking a two-year Wine Production course at Plumpton College in 2008 graduating last year in June 2010 receiving a merit grade.

I’m also a very passionate skier, skiing in most areas in Europe as well as Lake Tahoe in California and a season in Whistler B.C. 

Happy reading, hope you enjoy!