Conserving and sustaining the natural environment has always been a focal point in the farming and wine-making process at Allée Bleue. This prominent estate in Franschhoek honours the raw beauty of nature even further by launching the Blue Owl, which is an exhilarating new range of easy-drinking wines.
During renovations on the farm, workers discovered a nest in the rafters – it turned out to be a nest of an owl and a pair of owlets. The General Manager of Allée Bleue, Ansgar Flaatten articulates: “It seemed fitting to name the new range after this discovery and particularly the abundant birdlife in the area”.
The title chosen for the new range of gentle wines, ‘Blue Owl’ highlights the array of Eucalyptus “Blue Gum” trees at the entry point of Allée Bleue. It is also symbolic of the authenticity and excellence at Allée Bleue.
Blue Owl boasts a distinctive extroversive design, with two prominent wines in the range – an unwooded Chardonnay and a Merlot. Both these wines are of the finest quality, great flavour and perfect for daily consumption. The wines are made in the authentic Allée Bleue cellar, monitored by Van Zyl du Toit, a man who’s been the upholder of the estate’s finest wines from as early as 2009:
“Blue Owl was conceived soon after we acquired a neighbouring farm of 70 hectares in October last year,” he says. “Much like our own, the property borders on a river and has rich biodiversity that thrives on the banks and in a forest on the farm.”
The Blue Owl Merlot simultaneously is ideal for the most informal social gathering, such as an evening around the braai.
Allée Bleue has been a top performer in esteemed local wine competitions and collected multiple awards at a number of international competitions.
These awards include:
• The Isabeau 2013 is in SA Top 100 Wines
• The Starlette Rose 2015 received a Trophy for best Rose in category at the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards
• The Allée Bleue Brut 2012 received a Gold medal at the Michelangelo International Awards
• The Chenin Blanc 2014 received a Gold medal at Veritas Awards
• Gold medals for the Starlette Blanc 2015 and Blue Owl Chardonnay 2015 at the Ultra Value Wine Challenge
• Blue Owl Chardonnay 2014 will be served on-board SAA aircrafts & in the lounges during 2016
The new Blue Owl wines goes for around R50 a bottle.
