Lemberg Wine Estate and Guest House / Tulbagh near Cape Town

What other people write about us...

WINE magazine April 2003, Fiona McDonald

Phases of the Moon Pinotage

What on earth do lunar movements have to do with Lemberg's Pinotage? If the moon can affect the ebb and flow of the tides on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, why shouldn't it affect the vigour and growth of plants? Planting by the phases of the moon is no longer the preserve of weird and wonderful earth children or barmy crones. It's gaining more and more credibility as science provides increasing proof of its benefits. One believer in cosmic influences is Klaus Schindler. Owner of Tulbagh wine farm Lemberg, Schindler is someone who can separate the wood from the trees. A German forest scientist-turned-winemaker, he fell in love with South Africa - its wide open spaces, climate, friendly people and low cost of living - while working here in the '80s. After settling on the 22 hectare property just below the Witzenberg Mountains in 1994, he and wife Uschi decided to switch Lemberg's production from white to red wine. Only four hectares are under vine - mainly Pinotage and Pinot Noir, with some Sauvignon Blanc - so production is small, around 1000 cases in total.

He named his Pinotage Phases of the Moon because his philosophy is to work as organically as possible, and follow the lunar orb. "People have been doing it for centuries," he points out. "In Europe it is very common for people to either plant vegetable or flower gardens on a waxing or waning moon." But it's not only the moon that influences planting dates - the night orb's movement through stellar constellations must also be taken into account. Depending on whether the constellation is a fire, water, earth or air sign, the result on the plant can be markedly different. Carrots planted during a fire sign such as Leo would go to seed too soon, for instance, whilst vegetables planted during a water sign produce a marvellous foliage. Ideal for leafy vegetables, but not so great for root veggies, which need an earth sign.

"The planting is vital. Harvesting of the fruit can often be less than ideal because sometimes the sugars in the grape can be right when the moon is not! But the work in the cellar is also done by the phases of the moon." Schindler says his Pinotage is usually harvested before the Tulbagh heat becomes too extreme. "We pick the grapes and then handsort and destem before making the wine - 80% in wood and the remainder in stainless steel. I don't like to drink wood so I give the wine only about 10 month in barrel - French oak." He points out a passage in his guide which states that barrels of wine racked on a waxing moon throw more sediment then if done on a waning moon. As Schindler doesn't filter his Pinotage, he wants as little sediment as possible - hence the consultation with the moon calender to determine the ideal time. The only other treatment his Pinotage receives is a light egg-white fining. While this may sound like mumbo-jumbo to some, other swear by the enhanced quality of the product. German wine magazine 'Vinum' praised the 2001 Phases of the Moon Pinotage, placing it in the top 10 wines sampled in a recent tasting.

"Vinum" Wine Magazine, Germany and Austria, Nov. 2002, Rudolf Knoll:

The 2001 Pinotage has been an exceptionally good vintage - a pleasant well balanced result with mature tannins, which are typical for this grape. It was fun ... 15.5 points (very good) .... which puts it in the top ten sampled.

MULDERBOSCH VINEYARDS, 10 August 2002, by Clinton le Sueur

A gem of a PINOT NOIR (2001)

From the first glimpse of the bottle ... LA FEMINITE ... hand written in gold comes the promise of beauty, elegance and finnesse. The gurgle of the wine into the glass reveals a darker less brick brown colour typical of Pinot Noir.

The nose is filled with a complex array of aromas from almond blossoms, cloves, cardamom, crisp green apple to rich red kirsch cherries. All this follows through and waltzes on the palate together with a complexity of spices and roasted hazelnuts. Tanins are ripe (even at a sobering 12 % alc.!!) and soft with just a hint of wood vanillans. The aftertaste is of lingering cherry with almost European dryness. This wine is a wonderful partner to springbok fillet in red wine reduction as well as Alaskan salmon with herb spaetzle.

All senses are stimulated, yet we are more than the product of our senses and there is a whole universe behind within the things we usually accept at face value. The hand crafted attention to detail reveals a love of life in everything here at Lemberg.

ESCAPE MAGAZINE, January 1998, by Carla de Villiers

Lemberg Estate: Winery and Guest-House Supreme.

Nestled seductively on the outskirts of Tulbagh, and straddling the lovely Little Berg River, is one of South Africa's smallest wine estate (two years back it was the smallest)... "LEMBERG", a truly lovingly nurtured place where almost all the work is still "done by hand", explains modest Uschi Schindler, who, with husband Klaus, runs both winery and guest house.
"We are close to our work, and try to do it properly, because we love it so much." ESCAPE can asure that visitors will feel the same way! Wine tastings take place daily and the estate's Sauvignon Blanc achieved fifth place out of 71 entries in Germany in the 1995 Southern Hemisphere section, and, in the same prestigious event, was classed as the second finest Sauvignon Blanc in South Africa. No mean feat...
The guest-house - a magnificent rondavel, beautifully appointed for privacy - is, without doubt, the best value in town, and is set so as to appreciate the 500 rose-bushes cared for, and, again, nurtured by Uschi herself.
The superb double bed has an "Out of Africa" feel right down to the beautiful mosquito net hanging over it...a pretty good nesting place for romantics and city-damaged alike.
All the breads, olives, quinces, high-quality food and bakes again have a hands-on feel, though one has the option for selfcatering.
Because of the proximity to the Little Berg River plus dam, fly-fishing is possible: or take a water's edge lookout for the plentitude of colourful birds who've made this exquisite estate their home; then take an "outside" bath before braaiing on your own patio surrounded by indigenous trees and shrubs.
And, if it's mountain biking you'r into, ask the Schindlers for the various routes, or take part in Uschi's own aerobics classes!
But whatever you do, don't miss out on a visit to the delightful and warm hospitality on offer here. The visitors book reads like a love letter, including one which states that 'a rose by any other name will smell as sweet as your hospitality, wonderful food and exeptionally good wine..."
And picnic baskets are beautifully prepared by Uschi - so take your pick, over here nothing can go wrong, except leaving it.

Magazine WOMAN'S VALUE, April 1996, by Irina von Holdt (Cape Wine Master)

Lemberg Sauvignon Blanc 1995:

"Arresting tropical fruit aromas with great wafts of gooseberries and ripe fruits rather than Sauvignon grassiness.
Juicy and tangy and not quite dry, this is conversation stopping wine in more ways than one - the alcohol is whopping 14% vol!"

Magazine FAIRLADY 9 May 2001, by Monica Hilton-Barber

MOTHER OF ALL HOLIDAYS (Wining, dining and refining)

"Doesn't a week of wine-tasting, gourmet dinners and picnicking in the Tulbagh Valley sound glorious?
Lemberg Wine Estate has a spacious and lovingly furnished guest-house, set in lush gardens of roses and fruit trees. The thatched rondavel is near a lake, where you can swim and fish, and it's a paradise for spotting birds such as fish eagles, kingfishers, wild ducks, herons, egrets, weavers and more.
First and foremost, this is a food and wine lovers' heaven. And, if you're worrying about gaining extra kilos while eating and drinking to your heart's content, join Uschi's twice-weekly aerobics or aqua aerobics classes.
When your husband and kids aren't swimming or fishing, explore the historic village of Tulbagh and its surrounds."

Dominik Kozlik (Sommelier), Austria 31 November 1996

"...I have worked in the position of sommelier at the GRANDE ROCHE HOTEL in Paarl...The reason for my letter, to say thank you for your co-operation and for the experience what you have given to me with your wines.
I did most appreciate to work with your wines.
When I do have tastings with South African wines - I will have a lot - I will tell our sommeliers and winemakers about the high degree of knowhow and the feeling of certain South African winemakers like you..."

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