Distillery

At the end of 1992 Chamonix acquired a German copper still and started to produce their first Schnapps the same year. It was such a success that a fully equipped Distillery was completed in 1995.

The entire range of Chamonix Schnapps is produced from fruit grown on Chamonix, situated on the eastern mountain slopes of the Franschhoek valley.

The making of Schnapps requires fully ripened fruit, ensuring the optimum concentration of natural sugar and thus preventing a second distilling process.

The Hellinger Schnapps consists of the 43% Alc. Plum (produced from Sun Gold and Harry Pickstone plums), Pear (Packhams, Claps Favourite, Harrow Delight & Rosemary), Nectarine & Apple (Top Red, Panorama Golden & Granny Smith).

The sweeter 25% Hellinger Aperitifs, Cherry, Wild Fig & Pamplemousse, seem to be most popular with the young at heart!

Swedish Bitters: Swedish Bitter - has long been used for its natural healing properties. Chamonix Schweden Bitter is distilled in our traditional copper distillery from herbs infused with farm fruit alcohol from the original ancient recipe. A mixture of aloe, angelica root, manna, myrrh, camphor, saffron, senna leaves, theriac venezian, carline thistle roots, rhubarb roots, zedvoary is blended with Chamonix fruit spirit of 43% alcohol and left standing in a warm place for 14 days and shaken daily. This is then strained and bottled. Chamonix Schweden-Bitter is a natural herbal remedy, with no artificial colourants and flavourings, no added caffeine or sugar and no preservatives. By stimulating the body's digestive system, it assists with the elimination of waste products and the results of poor digestion, which may present symptoms such as, headaches, indigestion, constipation and nausea. It also aids in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and hangovers.

Dilute 5ml in the morning and in the evening, in Chamonix Spring Water or herb tea. For serious illness, take 10ml diluted with water or herb tea, just before a meal three times a day. It also has external healing powers, such as eczema, bites, rashes, burns and bruising: apply with piece of cotton wool to affected area for 2-4 hours daily. First apply calendula lotion to "grease" the skin to avoid it drying out.

Grappa:

Grappa - Chamonix Grappa follows the 400-year tradition of Grappa distilling countries like Italy, France and Germany. This increasingly popular spirit is made from distilling mass of grape skin, pips and stalks after pressing out the wine. This mass retains some alcohol from unfermented grape skins, thereafter Chamonix spring water is added enabling the remaining sugar to ferment, prior to distillation. The spirit can then be aged in oak to add an extra dimension.

This spirit, once consumed by peasants, is today more refined due to advanced distilling technology. The Chamonix Grappa is noted for its pleasant aroma and digestive properties. The proof is in the pudding, as Chamonix won the prize for the best South African Grappa.

Schnapps:

Schnapps - Chamonix Wine Farm produces classic German style fruit schnapps and aperitifs. The Chamonix distillery is designed and built according to German distillery standards and genuine imported German copper kettles are used. The unique flavour and bouquet of this popular Schnapps comes from the sweet sun-ripened fruit grown in our own farm orchards. Chamonix schnapps is available in different flavours and have a 43% level of alcohol. The aperitifs have a 25% alcohol level and available in 500ml as well as 200ml.
Along with world-class wines, spring waters and bar mixers, Chamonix wine farm in Franschhoek produces classic German style fruit schnapps and Spirit Aperitifs. The distillery on Chamonix wine farm, at which Hellinger schnapps is produced, is designed and built according to German distillery standards and genuine imported German copper kettles are used. The unique flavour and bouquet comes from the use of selected ripe fruit picked from Chamonix orchards.

Hellinger Schnapps is available in three different alcohol degrees of 25%, 38% & 43%. The 25% alcohol range consists of the following flavours: Cherry. Raspberry, Wild Fig, Grapefruit and Mandarine.

The 38% alcohol range consists of the following flavour : CRH Bitters.
The 43% alcohol range consists of the following flavours: Apple Oak Matured, Plum Pear, Mixed Fruit, Apple, Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry & Nectarine. Hellinger Schnapps is presented in 3 different sizes and bottles: 750ml ceramic swing stopper bottle, 500ml clear & frosted glass bottle and 200ml swing stopper glass bottle