Babylon's Peak Private Cellar

 

Babylon’s Peak private cellar is nestled on the slopes of the Paardeberg, between Malmesbury and Paarl. The cellar is built on the farm Nooitgedacht, which has belonged to the Basson family for four generations. The name ‘Babylon’s Peak’ is derived from a very high granite peak on the farm, known to the locals as ‘Babylonstoren’.

 

Wines were made in the old cellar until 1948, when the farmers in the region got together to form a cooperative. But in the early 2000s, Stephan Basson decided to renovate the cellar and realise a dream by producing wine there again.

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I am convinced that Chenin Blanc and Shiraz are the icon cultivars of the Paardeberg,’ says Stephan, so it’s not surprising that for three consecutive harvest years – 2007, 2008 and 2009 – Babylon’s Peak has won a Veritas gold award for its Chenin Blanc.

Babylon’s Peak also focuses on typical Rhône-style cultivars such as Mourvédre, Grenache and Viognier.

 

Accommodation on the farm is offered in a comfortable self-catering cottage, where visitors can enjoy the beauty of the area and, for the more active, participate in hiking and fishing.