House of J.C. Le Roux reopens

South African sparkling wine producer J.C. Le Roux has reopened the doors of its tasting house.

Following a four-month makeover the house now offers an outdoor area for visitors as well as an updated reception area and restaurant.

J.C. Le roux offers daily cellar tours and tastings, the tour culminates in the ceremonial sabrage, the grand tradition of using a sabre or sword to unleash the bubbles. The force of the blade causes the cork and collar to shoot off the neck of the bottle in a show stopping display.

In addition to tasting of the range of J.C. Le Roux Cap Classique and sparkling wines, there are also various pairings on offer, such as nougat or sorbet with sparkling wine.

The renovation has also seen an oyster bar introduced, which takes centre stage at lunchtime, as fresh oysters are served with sparkling wine.

In a statement about the reopening the winery said: “The golden La Vallée Room and elegant Scintilla lounge are perfect settings to savour award winning Cap Classiques, such as the 2012 Amorim Méthode Cap Classique Challenge winner, J.C. Le Roux Scintilla 2003.”

Named after French Huguenot, Jean Le Roux, the cellar is situated on the farm where he settled to grow vines after leaving his home in Normandy in 1704.

The first sparkling wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, was made at the House of J.C. Le Roux in 1983, followed by South Africa’s first Pinot Noir Méthode Cap Classique in 1985. In 1999, the house produced a Cap Classique, La Valleé.