La Petite Ferme - Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Name: Mark Dendy-Young, Owner / Wine Maker
 
This is what Mark had to say...

Tell us about your early days in the vineyards, your education and how you started your career.

 
My Grandfather influenced me. He planted the first vines at La Petite Ferme. He was known for smoking a huge Havana cigar at all times and everyone knew him for having a terrible temper. He was definitely a character but had a huge passion for wine. He bought the business in 1994 and had the wine made at Dieu Donne Wine Estate. In ’96 we started with two tanks (now there are 14) and we brought in a consultant Gerde van Zyl who guided me for the first year. Nearing the end of ’96 we had a huge fire and the whole place literally burnt down but we also managed to win a Gold for our Sauvignon Blanc and a double Gold for our Blanc Fume.


Describe your philosophy/approach to making wines

Minimal Intervention. Good wine is made in the vineyard. Its important to have good grapes and important to know the history of the fruit. All fruits are from La Petite Ferme which makes the challenge greater. We work with what we have! If you can produce an amazing wine from your own fruit- now that’s satisfying! Winemaking is like horse-racing. You can buy the best equipment and spend lots of money.. but then there is no handicap!

What is or would be the most ideal wine to make?

I would love to get my hand into sparkling, Methode Cap Classique (Sparkling wines made according to the traditional method - Methode Champenoise). Also the ultimate wine to produce is a good Pinot Noir. We just made our first Bordeaux Blend. It is 65% Cabernet Franc and it is called The Verdict. It will be released in 2010!

Favorite Cultivar to play with?

Sauvignon Blanc. It is the most difficult wine to make. Methoxypyrazines are so important in this varietal (These are the green peppers that are so difficult to capture in a Sauv Blanc.)

L a  P e t i t e  F e r m e

Franschhoek, Western Cape

Situated on the side of the majestic Middagkrans Mountains of the magnificent Franschhoek Valley, the west-facing La Petite Ferme is one of the more intimate wineries in the Cape Winelands.

More than 300 years ago, when the Hugenots arrived, they brought with them their age-old French wine and food culture. Theses amazing vineyards that cover these mountain slopes boast a valley rich in history and are centered around a picturesque village of warm and friendly people.

After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in France in 1685, when Protestantism was outlawed, hundreds of so-called Huguenots fled their homeland, 277 of them arriving by ship at the Cape of Good Hope. Many of them were given land by the Dutch government in a valley called Oliphantshoek (Elephant Corner) - so named because of the vast herds of elephants that roamed the area. Soon after they settled here, it become known as Franschhoek (French Corner).' Most of the wineries in Franschhoek still have their original French names and the homesteads are all Cape Dutch with gorgeous Oaks and luscious vineyards

The Dendy Youngs have been farming in Franschhoek since 1972 and in 1994 Mark and Josephine Dendy Young purchased La Petite Ferme. The wine cellar, where Mark is the resident winemaker and his father John the viticulturist, is an integral part of the food and wine experience at La Petite Ferme Restaurant. Mark’s energy and passion for his wine shines through his product and seems to be a wonderful anecdote while visiting and tasting.

La Petite Ferme has been honoured in the Wine Magazine’s top 100 restaurants, for the sixth consecutive year. In Wine Magazines’ special 10th Anniversary edition the restaurant was voted as one of the top ten restaurants in the country. The restaurant has furthermore been listed by Condé Nast Traveler US as one of the top fifteen ‘Best Value’ establishments in the world and again in November 2005 as ‘Best Value’ accommodation. In 2006 La Petite Baleine was voted as one of the top nine seaside villas to rent by Condé Nast.

D i n e  a t  L a  P e t i t e  F e r m e

A tradition built tirelessly by three generations, lunches at La Petite Ferme Restaurant are legendary. A feast of culinary delights that beguile and entertain, the food reflects the creative energy and raw talent of a dedicated staff combined with an abundance of fresh local ingredients.

Voted a 'Top 10'* restaurant, La Petite Ferme delivers innovative food without compromising on service or consistency.

* Wine Magazine

G u e s t h o u s e  /  S t a y i n g  O v e r

On the side of a mountain, overlooking the Franschhoek valley, stand La Petite Ferme Guest Suites, award-winning Restaurant and boutique Winery.
They have a variety of suites to suit any traveler, from the family holiday to the discerning couple in need of a luxurious experience.

Their 5-star, beautifully appointed rooms are warm and cozy for cold, wet winters and equally air conditioned and cool for hot summers, where a dip in the pool is a welcome respite from the midday sun.

Continue your experience at our seafront villa, the magnificent La Petite Baleine. Admire uninterrupted views and sunsets over Walker Bay.