De Toren

De Toren – the private wine cellar that belongs to Emil and Sonette Den Dulk – is an irresistible invitation to indulge in every one of the five sensory delights: sight, sound, touch, aroma and especially the taste of its flagship wine, Fusion V. De Toren lies on the sun-drenched Polkadraai Hills overlooking False Bay, with the magnificent Stellenbosch Mountains as backdrop.

The estate huddles closely to the ocean – that explains why the five classic cultivars of Bordeaux – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot – thrive in these vineyards. The first impression of De Toren is of limitless, unfettered light scattered by playful breezes, but closer inspection reveals the strict man-imposed order underlying nature’s extravagance.

Minute attention to the finest detail is evident, from the immaculate vineyards to the cellar’s tower that not only gives De Toren its distinctive silhouette, but also ensures that its wine is made with gentle gravity and never has to experience the torture of harsh mechanical pumps. This attention to detail and the soft handling of the grapes form the inextricable core of De Toren’s philosophy and success.

The concept of a gravity fed winery, basket pressing and hand harvesting of the five Bordeaux grape varieties could only be a winning formula. The system of a 4000 litre pressure tank in a lift shaft as a pump, hand sorting conveyors and a basket press has since been implemented to perfection on the farm and produces excellent, complex and well balanced wines.

The entire production cycle at De Toren Private Cellar has resulted in their wines becoming one of the first South African wines to qualify for IP (Integrated Production) certification. It is awarded by the Wine and Spirit Board and will serve as an environmentally friendly stamp of approval.

De Toren’s philosophy is simple: gentle handling, no pumps and minimum manipulation. When harvest time arrives, the grapes are picked by hand early in the morning to avoid heat, and placed in hand baskets to prevent bruising. Barely 90 minutes after the grapes were picked , they’re in the tank, ready for the final miracle of winemaking. On a relatively small property where seven soil types were identified, an impressive array of 18 cultivar clones were introduced-Merlot (7), Cabernet Sauvignon (5), Cabernet Franc (2), Petit Verdot (2) and Malbec (2).

Attesting to the quality of their wines, De Toren has been chosen to supply the proprietary wine for the world’s greatest hotel: The Burj Al Arab Jumeira in Dubai!