Colmant Cap Classique and Champagne

In the heart of Franschhoek, on land that was once part of the original La Motte farm granted to French Huguenots in 1694, a Belgian entrepreneur named Jean-Philippe Colmant built something rare in South African wine: a cellar dedicated entirely to Cap Classique, the traditional method sparkling wine that is the Cape's answer to Champagne.

The path to Franschhoek began in 2001 when JP Colmant and his wife Isabelle visited South Africa. After twelve years running a stone manufacturing business in Belgium, they fell in love with the valley and within months had sold their business and begun packing. They arrived in December 2002 with five hectares of land and a singular obsession: to produce world-class sparkling wine using the methode traditionnelle.

They planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, built a cellar designed specifically for Cap Classique production, and released their first wines in 2005. JP's philosophy was uncompromising: the most crucial element of refined sparkling wine is the blending, and he sourced grapes from different valleys — Franschhoek, Robertson, Hemel-en-Aarde, and Elgin — according to each terroir's specific contribution to complexity. Every bottle undergoes a minimum of 30 months on the lees before release.

Colmant quickly established itself as a benchmark producer. The Brut Reserve, a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, has earned 92 points in the Platter Wine Guide and Tim Atkin's SA Wine Review. The Blanc de Blancs, Brut Chardonnay, and Sec Reserve round out a focused range of five Cap Classique wines, with annual production of approximately 50,000 bottles.

In March 2024, the Colmant estate was sold to Jan and Isabelle Boone, Belgian nationals and executives at Lotus Bakeries, the global snack manufacturer. Paul Gerber was appointed as winemaker and managing director, with a commitment to maintain Colmant's exclusive focus on Cap Classique production. JP Colmant's founding vision — that Franschhoek could produce sparkling wine to rival the world's finest — lives on under new stewardship.

The tasting room in Franschhoek offers visitors a focused sparkling wine experience, with each of the five cuvees available to taste alongside the story of how a Belgian couple transformed five hectares of Huguenot farmland into one of South Africa's most respected Cap Classique houses. In a wine region dominated by still wines, Colmant stands apart as a cellar that does one thing and does it with conviction — traditional method sparkling wine crafted with the patience and precision that only dedicated focus can achieve.