Vintage Wine Collection
German owner Markus Rahmann has built a name as a successful businessman and hotelier with the establishment of five-star Asara Wine Estate & Hotel in Stellenbosch, but few know the extent of his passion for fine wines. Rahmann has spent 20 years assembling a vast private collection of South African and imported fine wines. His collection currently stands at 32 000 bottles, stored in appropriate temperature-controlled conditions in his South African vinotheque. Rahmann’s private wine collection focuses on South African wines with the inclusion of some selected international labels. The majority of local bottles were bid for at the Nederburg Wine Auction or Cape Winemakers Guild events over the years. In addition, a unique compilation of 120 bottles of Asara Wine Estate wines which includes every vintage and varietal produced under the Asara label to date.
One of the most expensive bottles on the Vinoteque Wine List is Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance 1986 vintage. This natural sweet dessert wine was recreated to the original recipe favoured by 18th and 19th century dignitaries including Napoleon. The R35 000 per bottle price tag is due to its rarity factor as this was the maiden vintage of the recreated wine. Other Vin de Constance vintages span the 1980s and nineties and even the 2003 vintage which has not been released to the public.
A good cross-section of top South African ‘first growth’ labels includes multiple Kanonkop vintages of flagship Paul Sauer red blend in various bottle formats, including the excellent 1989 vintage and many from the nineties. In a similar vein Meerlust Rubicon fans can take their pick from the 1980s and nineties. Multiple vintages of Delheim’s flagship Grand Reserve blend also reflect these two decades. For interested wine collecting enthusiasts the average selling price of a bottle starts from R100 per bottle.
Sought-after wines from Neil Ellis to De Toren, Rustenberg and Stellenzicht are among those available. Hamilton Russell Vineyards supporters will find vintages from the 1990s of Ashbourne Chardonnay or Pinot Noir bottles respectively. Local fortified wines lie alongside Pinotage vintages from the likes of specialist producers including L’Avenir, Kanonkop and Beyerskloof. Thelema’s Cabernet Sauvignon selection includes the stand-out 1995 vintage.
Asara Wine Estate farm in Stellenbosch dates back to 1691. Its vineyards extend over a sizeable 170 hectares and contemporary viticultural expertise is incorporated to keep them in prime condition. Winemaker Francois Joubert consistently produces award-winning wines, with flagship reds and dessert wines repeatedly attracting Platter four-star ratings. As of November 1st 2010, this private wine collection will be made available for purchase by the public. Guests of Asara Wine Estate can request a visit to the vaulted walk-in Vinoteque situated below Raphael’s Restaurant to make their selection. A comprehensive directory with corresponding prices can be found on the Vinoteque Wine List at Asara’s signature restaurant, Raphaels to enjoy with their meal. Alternatively, wine collectors can order bottles off the Vinoteque Wine List through The Wine Bar to take away with them. The Wine Bar is open to the public from Monday through Sunday from 10h00-18h00. Vinoteque Wine List wines are not available for tasting.
