D’Aria Vineyards comprises of two wine farms, namely Doordekraal and Springfield. The history of Springfield dates back to 1698 when the governor of the Cape first granted this farmland, then known as “Hooge Bergs Vallei” (later “Springfield”), thereby making it one of the oldest and most significant farms, not only in Durbanville, but in what will be known as the greater, modern-day Cape Town.
Our vineyards are situated at the back of the Tygerberg Hills, mainly in north-facing and east-facing rows. Situated 10km from the Atlantic Ocean, the sea breeze cools the grapes at night after the warm summer days. The vineyards are all on slopes that have rich and fertile soils. With an above average rainfall, there is no need to irrigate the vines. The clay textured soils preserve all the nutrition and water during the winter months letting nature control the quality of the grapes in the warmer summer months.
The D’Aria winery, inaugurated with the 2008 crop, is a study in simple sophistication. The clean lines and geometric shapes of squares and arches on the exterior echo the historic Cape Dutch architectural vernacular. Equipped to handle 400 tons, the interior provides a spacious yet compact ultra-modern environment for hands-on winemaking. D’Aria wines are handcrafted from start to finish. Grapes are hand picked and bunches and berries undergo a second sorting, also by hand, at the cellar. White grapes are processed in an inert nitrogen press to minimise oxidation, fermented in separate batches in small stainless steel tanks to capture a range of aroma and flavour characteristics, and then blended to achieve the winemaker’s vision of perfect balance. Red grapes undergo maceration and gentle crushing in stainless steel tanks, are fermented at carefully controlled and varietally optimal temperatures and then matured in 225l oak barriques. D’Aria’s commitment to excellence has been reflected in the immediate success of its wines from the launch of its range in 2008. Top awards at South Africa’s leading wine shows, including the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show and Michelangelo, underpin the growing reputation of D’Aria and the Durbanville wine ward as a whole, for seminal sauvignon blanc and outstanding reds, particularly merlot and shiraz.
D’Aria’s sense of value and sensitivity to consumer interests are also reflected in several ‘best value’ accolades earned by its wines. Thus, in all ways, D’Aria wines are guided in the growing and the making by ‘the muse’. Resplendent on each bottle of wine, this youthful, joyful, free-spirited character, flamboyant in flowing cape and feathered hat, playing a flute whose melody entices a bird to follow in flight, embodies the philosophy espoused in the brand’s name: Terra (our soil) D’Aria (a harmony of the senses) 1698 (our heritage) D’Urbanville (our location).Terra D’Aria 1698 D’Urbanville wines seek to awaken the senses and allow all who follow their hearts to see, to smell, to touch, to taste, to hear, to feel, to be, to love…