Bramon Wine Estate, a pioneer of vineyards in the Plettenberg Bay region and winner of numerous awards, including double golds for their wines and MCC, is going on auction.
This auction sale includes a 16.8ha boutique wine estate with a well-established, first-rated 200-seater restaurant, and a state-of-the-art wine cellar, as well as a house with a pool, and a two bedroom self-catering guest cottage.
Tanya Jovanovski, franchisee of Rawson Auctions Western Cape, says it would be ideal to build or expand the property into a boutique hotel/spa to compliment the beautiful mountain views and the waterfall below.
Having grown up on a wine farm in Worcester, Peter Thorpe, one of the current owners, had an inherent passion for wine and working the land. On discovering a piece of land in The Crags with gentle slopes and cool sea breezes, he found the conditions were excellent for vine growth. The estate is situated 20km east of Plett, in a mountainous area called The Crags.
After the very first vines, Sauvignon Blanc, were planted, Plettenberg Bay was subsequently classified as a ‘Wine of Origin’ region, a coup for the area. Since then the family has been pushing the boundaries of winemaking with their award-winning non-traditional and traditional Methode Cap Classique bubblies and still wines.
Having won many national and international awards, including two double gold Gran d’Or’s in 2015 alone, Bramon Wine Estate has paved the way for a new wine route.
Jovanovski says Bramon’s success has brought a plethora of new vineyards to Plett, where Peter hopes to create a ‘Sparkling Wine Route’, adding yet another facet to the ‘Jewel of The Garden Route’.
What you’ll find on the estate:
Firstly, and most importantly, is the state-of-the-art cellar which was completed in December 2010. Its completion marked 2011 as the first official winemaking year in the history of Plettenberg Bay.
Jovanovski says it spans some 725sqm and can store up to 250 tonnes of tools and wine. It comes with all the usual bells and whistles, and a few extra features not found on every farm. You have an Enoveneta bag press, a de-stemmer crusher, some peristaltic wine and pulp pumps, various different sizes of fermentation tanks, a large Daikin chilling plant, a compressor, water filtration system, sterilisation plant (which supplies all the buildings on the farm), a tasting area, laboratory, pump and equipment room, and, of course, a restroom and office.
The Bramon Wine Estate also has an off-sales tasting centre with a special license to sell wine seven days a week. It is situated right on the N2, adjacent to the farm on a long-term lease from the neighbouring farm) at the entrance to the Bramon access road.
Set in the vineyards overlooking the Tsitsikamma Mountains is the restaurant. It serves a collection of wines and fresh tapas-styled dishes, and can also be used for tastings. It seats 200 people in an open-plan dining area and outside in and amongst the vines.
The farm usually sees about 570 people a day over three sittings, and combined with the cellar can cater for bespoke functions, from weddings and christenings to corporates retreats, team building getaways, Christmas parties and music gigs. The restaurant comprises the dining area, a bar, the kitchen, scullery, fireplace, toilets, a storeroom, and a carport for the tractor and various equipment.
The wine estate is capable of planning the entire event, and employ a capable and efficient events management team and staff.
Events held in the cathedral-like cellar are a new affair, seating 150 guests comfortably. The cellar is also available for conferences and presentations, as well as cellar tours and wine tastings by pre-arrangement.
The main house comprises three bedrooms, two bathrooms, both of which are en suite, three fire places, a large lounge/dining room, kitchen and scullery, study, cellar, and a deck with a rim-flow pool and two braais. Jovanovski says the home offers residents spectacular view over waterfall and forested ravine.
On the lip of the Buffels gorge is the self-catering Waterfall Cottage. It has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a dressing room, two balconies, an open-plan lounge, a dining area and kitchen with a fireplace. The second cottage, or flatlet, has its own kitchen, a lounge come dining room, a bathroom, study, two carports, and a deck that overlooks the waterfall and ravine as well.
The main house and cottages are not visible to one another.
Jovanovski says the farm is obviously functional and productive. “More information can be provided on request, but this is what the estate comes with: a large capacity generator, a tractor, mist blower, ploughs, general implements, a diesel bowser, Ford diesel bakkie, and a carport for four vehicles.”
“The vines are trellised, and drip irrigated. The demarcation board has approved and gazetted the Plettenberg Bay Wine of Origin for the vineyards.”
Two dams have been built on the farm, one is ornamental and the second is used as an irrigation dam. The property is fenced off, except for the ravine/river boundary. The farm has water rights for the perennial river (700m frontage), even though the dam supplies all water requirements.
“Winemaker Anton Smal is extremely excited about the full spectrum of flavours different pockets of vineyards in Plett offer,” says Jovanovski.
“They range from capsicum and the typical green aromas of Sauvignon Blanc, to tropical pineapple, passion fruit and gooseberry. There has been a flurry of activity with vineyards popping up in the area - so keep your eyes open for new varieties out of the Plettenberg Bay Wine of Origin region.”
The property will go on auction on 10 January 2018 at 12h00. The reserve price is available on application, “however, all offers will be reviewed, so please don’t hesitate to bid,” says Jovanovski.
The seller is registered for VAT, and as such, a transfer duty is not payable.
In following with the terms of Rawson Auctions has laid out, there is no registration fee to bid. However, a deposit of 5% of the purchase price, as well as 10% commission plus VAT over and above the purchase price is to be paid to Rawson Auctions by the buyer on acceptance of seller.
Bidders are required to be registered, and must have certified copies of their identity documents and proof of residence with them.
For more information, or to view the property, click here.
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