Dornier wine estate

Dornier’s state-of-the-art winery with its curved roof is the estate’s most eye-catching feature. Image: Supplied

Fine wines and architecture make for the Dornier distinction

Elegant vintages and award-winning design creatively come together at this wine industry gem.

Dornier wine estate

Dornier’s state-of-the-art winery with its curved roof is the estate’s most eye-catching feature. Image: Supplied

Nestled in the heart of the Stellenbosch Valley and surrounded by lush, green mountains, Dornier Wine Estate cleverly fuses the opposites of “change and stasis, seriousness and pleasure, complexity and simplicity”.

Claiming local and growing international fame for their wines, Dornier is also an architectural inspiration. In an industry where competition is intense and differences often indistinguishable, the estate’s unconventional approach sets it apart from the rest.

Dornier: Where age-old tradition meets futuristic innovation

Located on two estates, Keerweder and Stellenrust, both steeped in history and long-standing tradition, Dornier lies on 167ha of prime viticultural land at the foothills of the Stellenbosch Mountain.

Owned by Swiss/German artist Christoph Dornier, son of aircraft pioneer Claude Dornier, who worked with Count Zeppelin and designed fighter aircraft, the estate has been remodelled along clean, stark lines, with an undulating silver roof designed by Dornier himself to enhance the landscape.

A fusion of art and architecture

Dornier wine farm
Dornier’s industrial-chic winery is a marvel of facebrick and stainless steel. Image: Supplied

Dornier houses a slick, industrial-chic winery of facebrick and stainless steel. This is placed in juxtaposition with an elaborate Sir Herbert Baker masterpiece, one of the Cape’s oldest cellars, which serves to highlight the farm’s heritage.

“I didn’t want another Cape Dutch building,” Christoph Dornier said of his vision for the winery.

“I wanted to create something that would instantly set us apart from the norm.”

And it is this artist’s vision and creative foresight that does just that. On meeting Dornier the man, one is struck with a sense that Dornier Wines is the expression of its owner – someone who achieves success through unconventionality and courage.

Cape Dutch landmark Dornier’s other attraction

Inspired by surrealism and using art as a visual language, traditional materials were used to create a functional, and yet stylish and avant-garde, building.

Immaculate gardens surround the estate and on approach one is led along a path between the old Sir Herbert Baker house on the right, sleeping gently in all its Cape Dutch glory, and the new, modern winery on the left.

The new building’s sweeping, curved roof reflects the profile of the surrounding mountains while a glassy pond mirrors the roofline and serves to cool the maturation cellar beneath.

Dornier design mimics organic movement

Inside there is an effortless flow of movement, with an administration area flowing into the cellar, maturation cellar and visitors’ tasting room.

Walls of glass filter light into the deep, cavernous spaces of the maturation cellar, where huge stainless tanks are suspended high above the floor. These can be seen from the guest plaza to allow for transparency of the winemaking process.

Forest views and jarrah wood floors interact with industrial materials such as glass, stainless steel, aluminium and wood to give a minimalist feel, while splashes of colour from surrealist artworks by Dornier himself adorn treated facebrick walls to soften the scene.

Complexity, simplicity and pleasure

Dornier wine estate
Like the estate’s other wines, Dornier’s 2016 merlot is characterised by an understated class and elegance. Image: Supplied

As with any wine farm, though, the beating heart of the estate are its vineyards. Looking out over the vivid green, undulating hillsides, the smell of the vines tickling your senses, you can understand why.

Dornier has 70ha of land under vine, with grape varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chenin Blanc. However, unlike most producers, Dornier Wines decides on the style of wine before harvesting.

Grapes are picked exclusively on taste, while the secret to the complexity, body and character of the wines lies in the staggered harvesting of each vineyard block.

“To stand apart, we needed to create something unique,” Dornier said.

“By blending, you can combine the best wines, filling in with one varietal where another is lacking to produce something really exceptional – harmonious and balanced.”

Dornier wines achieve award-winning results

This combination of enthusiasm and artistic visionary has reaped award-winning results.

“Dornier is an ongoing creative collaboration with these prime Stellenbosch vineyards and our dedicated team” Dornier said.

“We are led by the principles of tradition and inspired by perfection, yet realise the power of innovation. Everything that Dornier stands for and embodies – be it the place or the wines – creatively fuses the opposites of change and stasis, seriousness and pleasure, complexity, and simplicity.

“We embrace difference where it leads to improvement, and still recognise the value of what has come before,” he added.

Situated on Blaauwklippen Road, off the R44 opposite Stellenbosch golf course, Dornier Wines is open for tastings Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:30, and Saturdays from 9:00 to 15:00.

For more information, call 021-880-0557, email info@dornierwines.co.za or visit www.dornierwines.co.za.

Tags: