Morgenster announces its hospitality project
15 May 2013 Giulio Bertrand, owner of Morgenster Wine and Olive Estate in Somerset West near Cape Town, has announced the commencement of his long planned hospitality phase which will see the Estate offering accommodation, fine dining and a café and deli experience to visitors. Bertrand explains:
“After I bought Morgenster in 1992 as a retirement home and had restored the historical buildings, I realised that I owned a wine farm with magnificent terroir. I put retirement on hold and went to France to judge whether Morgenster could produce wines in line with the best from Bordeaux. There I was introduced to Pierre Lurton of Chateau Cheval Blanc who I invited to Morgenster. He was as inspired as I was about the farm’s potential and we began establishing vineyards of Bordeaux varieties and building a cellar. After 15 years of Pierre consulting to our local winemaking team and being on our Board of Directors, Morgenster’s cellar of marvellously aging Bordeaux styled red wines has earned acclaim internationally and locally.
“Being Italian and accustomed to having olives growing with vines, I established over 50 hectares of olive groves for table olives and extra virgin olive oil. Morgenster’s oil has received the world’s highest accolade of “Best blended olive oil in the world, 2006 L’Extravergine”. It has also received 97 points out of a possible 100 in the last four editions of the Flos Olei Guide to the World’s Best Extra Virgin Olive Oils, making it one of the top seven oils in the world for consistent quality at that level over years 2010 – 2013.
“While I was establishing the working farm to the quality I wanted, I had the idea of developing a second phase to give visitors more opportunity to enjoy the Morgenster experience.
“We are therefore creating an inside/outside café and deli from which we will serve light meals, situated next to our wine and olive tasting room.
“Secondly, we are renovating and converting the existing cottages on the Estate into luxury accommodation offering beautiful views of our vines and olive groves.
“Finally there will be changes to Field House which is in our meadow facing the tasting room. For the last two and a half years chef Craig Cormack has run Sofia’s at Morgenster from that venue. From the end of May Craig moves to a new venture, leaving with our thanks and best wishes. The building will be remodelled in line with the requirements of our new fine dining partner and will offer lunches and dinners.
“We are currently in high level discussions with a family of world renowned chefs and expect to announce shortly who our dining partner will be for Morgenster’s Restaurant and Café.
“I am happy to welcome back Judi Dyer as Managing Director of Morgenster with effect from the beginning of May. Judi returns to Morgenster after four years, bringing a wealth of fine dining and wine marketing expertise with her to lead our team into this new phase of the Estate’s 302 year history.
“When I first saw Morgenster it was love at first sight. I have never felt so attracted to a place like I was with Morgenster. I believe the time is right to present this lovely Estate for the enjoyment of more people and I am looking forward to this phase of my retirement!”