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The Giant Periwinkle

Winery Description

Location and History

The Giant Periwinkle is situated against Perdekop on the outskirts of the village of Baardskeerdersbos, with the town of Elim 16 kilometers away. This boutique winery is built on a passion for good wine in the southerly Cape Agulhas wine district. Pierre Rabie established The Giant Periwinkle from small beginnings in rented spaces with hand-crafted labels. It has since grown into a fledgling winery with its own cellar, vineyards, and a brand-new label. Together with his friends and business partners, Karen van Helden and Robert Stelzner, The Giant Periwinkle is part of a new wave of winemakers who take bold risks to push the boundaries of flavour and quality. Their efforts have paid off, seeing great success at local wine festivals and boutique bottle stores.

Finding balance is important; every moment spent establishing this little winery is cherished. Creativity and self-expression are at the heart of their work, alongside a commitment to give back to the industry and community. At The Giant Periwinkle, non-interventionist wines are made without compromising on quality. The first vines were planted in the wider Elim region in the mid-90’s, and while the cool climate of Baardskeerdersbos terroir presents its challenger, it also offers generous rewards. The winery has grown from a garagiste operation into a boutique winery specialising in Sauvignon Blanc.

Wine Tasting

The Giant Periwinkle looks forward to welcoming visitors to their Tasting Room located on the small farm, South Cape Vineyards. Wine tastings are done by appointment, and friendly dogs are welcome.

The wines are not filtered, ensuring the flavour profiles remain unchanged. Whole bunch fermentation with extended skin contact is used to impart natural tannins and flavours to the wines. Grapes are sorted by hand to ensure they are of the highest quality and alternative vessels, such as clay amphora, are used for making and storing the wines.

In addition to the welcoming Tasting Room, visitors can relax with a glass of wine on the deck overlooking a small dam, weather permitting. Currently, The Giant Periwinkle does not offer cellar or farm tours but periodically provides winemaking experiences and forms part of the Baardskeersbos art route events.

Restaurant

Accommodation

Tours and Activities