Lomond Wine Estate - Wayne Gabb Interview
Friday, 16 December 2011
Lomond Wine Estate is situated in Cape Agulhas, an exciting new wine producing region on the southernmost tip of Africa where the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. This region is gaining a worldwide reputation for producing outstanding Sauvignon Blanc.Lomond takes its name from the Ben Lomond Mountain, located in the valley. Ben Lomond was named by Scottish survivors of HMS Birkenhead, which sank in 1852. The ship was carrying troops to the frontier wars in Southern Africa, when it hit an unchartered rock in shark infected waters.
There were not enough lifeboats on board: however the soldiers famously stood firm and led by the Captain they allowed women and children to leave the ship first.
Following a long search for the ideal vineyard location, Wayne Gabb (founder of Lomond) settled on a valley 6km from the coast at a latitude of 3434' south, which is blessed with a slow ripening climate created by the cooling breezes rolling in directly off the ocean. 2008 saw Lomond receive their most prestigious award to date: the 2007 Pincushion Sauvignon Blanc was judged "Best Sauvignon Blanc in the world under £10" by Decanter World Wine Awards, beating stiff competition from New Zealand and Chile. This award has led to huge demand for the Lomond wines and raised the profile throughout the world.
Wayne Gabb, winemaker at Lomond in South Africa shares his story of how he came to the southern tip of the country and decided to start a winery here. He also tells what is special about the wines he makes.
