Giorgio Dalla Cia: My Cape Town

Winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia shares his love for Cape Town, the good life and antiques

South Africa’s very first Bordeaux-style wine, the Meerlust Rubicon, was made by none other than award-winning winemaker, Giorgio Dalla Cia. It was recognised as one of the Best South African wines in the world at that time.

Luckily for us Giorgio Dalla Cia created his own Grappa distillery in Stellenbosch in 1996 and today we also enjoy many wines (and even chocolates) under the Dalla Cia label. We found out a little more about Giorgio Dalla Cia’s love for Cape Town, the good life – and antiques.

Right now I am... feeling very satisfied, the harvest is over and the quality of the grapes is high! On the Grappa front my son George and I are distilling full steam ahead and the quality is exceptional, it brings back fond memories of when I used to distill with my father in Italy…

My favourite thing about Cape Town is... showing my visiting Italian friends Kirstenbosch Gardens, Table Mountain and Cape Point.

...and the one thing I would change: Absolutely nothing at all!

Capetonians are... liberal, open-minded, friendly, quite Mediterranean

Describe a perfect day in Cape Town: Visiting antiques shops in Long Street with my two sons, followed by lunch at 95 Keerom.

Travellers should not miss: Rhodes Memorial, Table Mountain and the Gold Museum.

Where I like to shop: Atkinson’s Antiques (Tel: 021 424 9680); Herman Noy Antiques (Tel: 021 424 4820); Times & Pieces (Tel: 021 422 5590).

My favourite restaurant in Cape Town is... 95 Keerom and Carne

Late at night you can find me... at home relaxing with family and friends.

Pinotage or Peartiser? A good Pinot Noir, thank you!

When I leave my house I always take... my panama hat.

I like to listen to... jazz greats like Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck and Miles Davis. On the classical side I enjoy Vivaldi, Albinoni and Bach.

The craziest thing I’ve ever done is… to move with my family to South Africa in 1974, it turned out to be one of the best things I ever did!

My life won’t be complete without... great food, wine, friends, family and music…

When I need to get out of the city... I love to walk in the forest for a couple of hours.

If I could live anywhere else in the world... it would be Burgundy, France, or back in Friuli, Italy, where I was born.

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