Andreas
Andreas Wine Farm
This enchanting boutique wine estate in Wellington's Bovlei district is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for Jan and Anita Bokdal.
With a history dating back to the first Huguenot settlement in the Valley, the farm forms part of the land originally granted to Barend Blum, in 1699.
Andreas has just 4, 5 ha under Shiraz vines. Long, hot summer days cooled by late afternoon breezes, chilly, wet winters, and a combination of sandy and loamy soils provide the perfect terroir for this noble cultivar, producing small, dark, intensely flavourful berries which are the hallmark of a fine local Shiraz.
Influenced by Biodynamic principles, ecologically sensitive vineyard management is stringently adhered to. No use of insecticides, and natural predators are encouraged, in line with IPW (Integrated Production of Wine).
The Flagship wine was the Andreas Shiraz 2004. This maiden vintage garnered a Silver Veritas and Double-Gold Michelangelo Award, as well as Runner-up for the coveted Michelangelo
Trophy.
Andreas 2005
Vintage: 2005
Style: Full bodied wood matured red wine
Cultivar: Shiraz - 100%
Origin: Paarl
Situation of Vineyards: Wellington
Residual Sugar: 3.3 g/l
Total Acidity: 6.05 g/l
Ph: 3.5
Alcohol: 14.5%
Degrees Balling at Harvest: 25.1
Temperature during fermentation: 26°c
Period in Wood: 18 months in 300Litre French & American oak barrels. Medium / medium plus toasted. 90% new barrels.
Fermentation:
Grapes were hand picked in the early mornings and then transferred to the cellar. On arrival the grapes were sorted and all damaged or undesired berries were removed. It was then destalked, crushed and then pumped into 2500 and 5000- litre stainless steel tanks. Yeast was added and once fermentation has started, the juice was pumped over the skins 3 - 4 times daily to extract colour, tannins and flavour. Once fermentation was completed, the wine was left on the skins for a further 5 - 8 days. The wine was then racked off the skins to the barrels where malo-latic fermentation was completed. Upon completion of malo-latic fermentation, the wine was racked off the less and returned to the barrels for a maturation period of ten months. Careful, individual barrel selection was done to arrive at the final blend. The wine was fined with egg whites and only one coarse filtration was done before bottling.
Tasting notes:
The wine is deep garnet in colour with Purple and Ruby edge, the nose erupts with a ripe mix of aromatic pepper, spice and red berries with sweet chocolate. The palate shows blackcurrant, prune with a hint of mint with spicy wood and velvety tannins to ensure promising ageing potential in the bottle.
Awards: 2007 International Swiss Air Awards - Bronze
Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
We are proud to announce that Andreas won the following awards at this years Decanter competition. The prices indicated are for the European Market and the wine can be ordered at www.ewine.eu The 2007 Andreas Shiraz is not yet released.
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Bokdal Family Winery Andreas Shiraz 2007 |
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Bokdal Family Winery Andreas Shiraz 2006 |
The Owners
In September 2005, Anita and Jan Bokdal (from Stockholm, Sweden) realised their dream of owning an operational wine farm.
Landscapers by trade, the Bokdal’s began the search in Europe and realised their fifteen year dream actually forming when they visited South Africa on holiday. They fell in love with the beauty of the Western Cape and began the hunt for the precious prospect they wanted. After calling all the Estate agents they finally found their farm “Groenendal” in Wellington.
Still residing in Sweden with their two daughters Camilla and Caroline, their visits to their sunny home becomes more frequent as time goes by.
Winemaker
Ettienne Malan grew up in Robertson and started working in cellars from grade 8. Ettienne went to Elsenburg Agricultural School in Stellenbosch from 1994 to 1995 to further his winemaking knowledge. From 1997 to 1998 Ettienne worked at Robertson Winery as a cellar assistant and moved on to become assistant winemaker at Le Grande Chasseur, also in Robertson, from 1999 to 2000. He then received his diploma in Cellar Technology in 2001. From 2002 to 2004 Ettienne was assistant winemaker at Rust en Vrede in Stellenbosch and became head winemaker in 2005. Ettienne is also a consulting winemaker for a few other farms in the Cape Winelands.
David Frost
David Frost, played in his 21st (!) British Open at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Liverpool, UK in July 2008. And, apart from making the cut and finishing the tournament in horrid weather conditions, it was a very memorable occasion with his son, Sean caddying for him. For most of the remainder of 2008 and up to September 2009, David will be playing mostly in European Tournaments. In September 2009 he will be joining the Senior Ranks – a new era!
David has been playing golf since high school and grew up on a farm in the Cape Winelands. During the summer months he would help with harvest and with the pocket money he earned would buy golf clubs and balls.
So, while winning over 22 tournaments worldwide and recording the PGA Tour’s lowest putting total, David’s passion for wine was never far from his heart. In 1994 he decided to turn his love for wine into a business venture. He purchased a 130ha farm (St Clement) in the Voor Paardeberg wine ward, Paarl and with the assistance of Napa winemaker, Jason Fisher, produced his first 3000 cases in 1997. The rest is history ...
With 24ha planted to classic French red varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Cabernet Franc; Petit Verdot; Malbec and Shiraz. These vines have been selectively sited on warm, sun-drenched and breezy slopes to produce full-bodied, fruit-driven wines. The David Frost range comprises a 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002 Merlot, 2003 Par Excellence (Bordeaux blend) and limited release 2003 Million Dollar Blend (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot) – a wine made to commemorate his three time win of the Million Dollar Trophy.
Unlike many athletes or celebrities who lend their name to a brand, David Frost has a true passion and respect for wine and the process of producing world class wines. And although he is out of the country for long periods – he remains a very hands-on and involved wine farmer.
Paardeberg Wine of Origin Ward is a unique wine producing area with its own character and it was recently added to the exclusive wine areas of the Western Cape. The Voor Paardeberg is one of the newest wine appellations being declared for producing distinctive wines of a significant quality. This small wine region runs along and embraces the south eastern slopes of the Voor Paardeberg outcrop, from the R 45 to the north and the R44 to the south. This rocky granite outcrop is located roughly 15km to the north west of Paarl.
A warm area as Paarl is known, here a southerly wind prevails throughout the year, helping to cool the vineyards. As a result the summer daytime temperatures are approximately five degrees cooler than the average Paarl region. This rocky outcrop has soils of pure granite, rich in potassium, which offer high grape quality potential; lower on the slopes the granite formations are mixed with varying percentage of clay and shale. Generally the vines are trellised to restrict excessive growth and offer protection against the prevailing winds.
The exceptional terroir of the Voor Paardeberg ward and the grapes cultivated in the area has been the source of various international wine awards. It is the location of this ward that makes it so unique. The mountain slopes of the Paardeberg, together with the soil composition and prevailing winds, create a specific qualit§y in the grapes. The wines produced here have the potential to become part of the elite wines of the country.
Voor Paardeberg is situated between the winegrowing areas of Paarl, Wellington and the Swartland, with a definite own identity and terroir due to the open side towards the West Coast. The climate of Voor Paardeberg has a huge influence on the natural taste of their wines. Cool south westerly breeze that causes temperature fluctuations – sometimes as much as 20 degrees Celsius during the hot summer months that creates high quality grapes with concentrated flavours.
This hot and dry climate favours red varieties however some interesting white wines are produced. Shiraz is the most prominent red variety however also grown here is Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Mouvedre. As for white wines, very good examples of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc can be found. New plantings are found of Viognier and small plantings of Sauvignon Blanc, Nouvelle and Semillon. The style of our wines compares more to the Rhone style than the Bordeaux style wines. We concentrate on the production of red wine, although historically more emphasis was placed on the production of white wines
This wine ward consists of eight wine producers and members that present an experience of untamed Cape winelands, a classic lifestyle and distinctive high quality wines. The members are Anthony Smook Wines, Ayama, Bernheim, David Frost Estate, Horse Mountain Wines, Oude Denneboom, Scali and Vondeling.
Voor Paardeberg also offers numerous other tourism attractions. These include the unique breeding programme of the Cape Quagga on the farm Far Horizons in an effort to re-breed this now extinct animal, (www.quaggaproject.com) the orchid nursery on the farm Staart van Paardeberg, historical buildings on the different wine farms and the natural beauty of the environment.
Farms in the area were allocated during the reign of Simon van der Stel and the gable on the old farmhouse on Schooneoord indicates that it was built in 1707. This area is not unbeknown to wine production, but local farmers initially concentrated on wheat and cattle farming as well as table grapes.
In the past few years more and more farmers have begun to plant wine grapes because they realised that the quality of the grapes produced in this area is of great value. The first wine from this ward was vinified in 1999 under the Scali label and in the past six years the other producers were added. Different ranges of wines from this ward are now on both the local and international markets. We all produce wines of exceptional quality and have had tremendous successes on the local market as well as overseas.
RECENT AWARDS FOR VOOR PAARDEBERG PRODUCERS
Michelangelo International Wine Awards
- Sonop Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 – Gold Medal
WINE magazine
- Bernheim Shiraz Cabernet 2007 "Best Value"
International Wine Challenge 2008
- Vondeling Baldrick Shiraz 2007 - Silver Medal
- Ayama Chenin Blanc 2007 - Bronze Medal
Best Value Award (Wine Magazine)
- Vondeling Petit Blanc 2006
SWISS International Airline Wine Awards 2008
- Sonop organic Viognier 2007 – Silver Medal
- Ayama Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 – Bronze Medal
- Ayama Shiraz 2006 – Silver Medal
- Ayama Chenin Blanc 2007 – Seal of Approval
- Oude Denneboom Steenbok 2007 – Silver Medal
- Vondeling Babiana 2006 – Gold Medal
- Vondeling Winery – Best Kept Secret
WINE Magazine June 2008
- Vondeling Erica Shiraz 2005 – Editor’s Choice
- Vondeling Erica Shiraz 2005 – 4 Star
Veritas Awards 2007
- Ayama Chenin Blanc 2007 – Silver Mdal
- Ayama Pinotage 2006 – Bronze Medal
- David Frost Par Excellence 2003 – Bronze Medal
- Horse Mountain Shiraz 2005 – Gold Medal
- Oude Denneboom Shiraz 2005 – Bronze Medal
Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2008
- David Frost Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 – 4 Star
- David Frost Par Excellence 2003 – 4 star
- Horse Mountain Shiraz 2005 – 4 ½ star
- Horse Mountain Pinotage 2006 – 4 Star
- Horse Mountain Michele 2005 – 4 ½ Star
- Scali Blanc 2006 – 4 ½ Star
- Scali Pinotage 2005 – 4 Star
- Scali Syrah – 4 Star
- Bernheim Pinotage Rose 2007 – Best Value (Exceptionally drinkable & well priced)
Where Excellence Resides...
Rising from the heart of the picturesque Wellington Valley is a mountain known as Groenberg, or Green Mountain.
Nestling in its verdant foothills, with sweeping views across the Boland to distant Table Mountain, is the historic Slangrivier Farm - a wine estate that embraces the diversity of nature that is Wellington.
Linton Park Wines captures the history, personality and style that can only be truly South African.
The homestead, which dates back to 1809, stands as a monument to the farm’s proud viticultural heritage.
The Vineyards
The magnificent farm has approximately 84 ha under vine, comprising Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The vineyards are situated on the lush slopes of the Groenberg, where higher rainfall, more moderate summer and winter temperatures, and rich Oakleaf soils combine to create a distinctively favourable micro-climate, and unique terroir.
History
Slangrivier, a brief history
During the year 1699, the then Governor of the Cape of Good Hope, Willem Adriaan van der Stel, granted the farm Slangrivier (Snake River) to French Huguenot Louis Fleury. It was he who planted the first vineyards and created the first wine. The original Deed of Grant, which is dated 28 February 1699, still hangs in the homestead today. Slangrivier takes it name from the winding stream which flows from the Groenberg Mountain on which slopes the farm is situated. The farm was purchased by Linton Park PLC (a UK-based multinational) in 1995.
The restoration of Slangrivier
The present homestead dates from 1809 and is a classic single story Cape Dutch building. In 1995, plans were drawn up for the complete restoration of the Homestead.
As the building restoration neared completion, a search was made for the appropriate Cape Dutch furniture with which to furnish the house. Finally, after exploring many avenues, a property was found in Graaff Reinet crammed with Voortrekker furniture, all of which probably originated in and around CapeTown at the time the homestead was built.
Terroir
This magnificent property is situated on the slopes of the Groenberg Mountain and enjoys a distinctly different climate to the surrounding region, resulting in a unique terroir. Groenberg is so named because its unique location stands in lush contrast to the area. Vineyards are planted on the slopes of Groenberg which lends diversity to the different cultivars. Also, the rainfall is higher, the soil richer, and the summer temperatures more moderate. This provides the special micro-climate in which we grow our grapes. Temperatures are low enough to allow the vineyards to rest well storing resources for the growth phase beginning in Spring. The vines are planted in a variety of Oakleaf soils which, together with these cool elevated peaks, enable us to select the most suitable terroir for each cultivar.
Vineyards
The farm has approximately 84 ha under vine. There are substantial established plantings of noble cultivars Cabernet Sauvignon, Ruby Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
The cellar
When the new owners took occupation, the existing cellar was completely overhauled, parts being rebuilt, others simply restored. With new state-of-the-art equipment, a perfect synergy was created between wine making tradition and the most modern technology. Hennie Huskisson, winemaker with International experience (Chateau Margaux) and local experience at Fairview and well-known Nederburg, is solely responsible for the production of Linton Park wines. Hennie also scooped the SA Young Winemaker award in Canada during 2003.
Louiesenhof
WINES PRODUCED IN HARMONY WITH NATURE
In producing his wines, owner and winemaker Stefan Smit’s aim is to work ‘in harmony with nature, with as little tampering as possible’. This is made possible by the varied terroirs here, which allow him to cultivate the most suitable cultivars and to implement sustainable cultivation practices.
Apart from wines, Stefan produces a unique style of port called Perroquet Cape Tawny and, since acquiring a beautiful, historic distilling kettle, he has begun distilling a connoisseur’s sipping brandy.
A member of the Bottelary Conservancy, Louiesenhof is involved in efforts to preserve endangered fynbos and other rare plant species here, and to clear alien plants.
Middelvlei
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The family |
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Our Well-Tended Vineyards |
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The estate covers 160 ha of which 130 are planted with a combination of Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tinta Barocca, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The main soil types are Hutton and Clovelly – both particularly moisture-retentive and therefore obviating the need for irrigation. |
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Our Time-Hounoured Cellar Practices |
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Built in 1941, the Middelvlei cellar was extended in 1999 by the addition of a maturation facility for 900 small barrels. Although Tinnie shares his father’s firm belief in traditional winemaking methods, the cellar boasts a combination of both traditional equipment and new technology. New equipment includes a destemmer/crusher that gently removes the stems and crushes the berries to minimize hard tannins in the wine. Another new addition is a mash cooler to cool down the crushed berries before the fermentation process, therefore better preserving the fruit flavours. The wine is fermented in traditional open cement tanks, after which the malolactic fermentation process takes place in closed cement tanks. |
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Our Extended Family |
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The well being of the Middelvlei community has always been high on our priority list. To this end Delilah Cupido, our Community Manager sees to the welfare of Middelvlei employees and coordinates projects with the youth and women’s club. The Middelvlei staff has access to a well-equipped day-care centre with experienced carers, a community hall, a clinic and a library. |
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Our Welcoming Committee |
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Varieties not in our vineyards and wines not in our cellar can be found moving around on four legs. Which means that on arrival, you’ll be welcomed by a tail-wagging pack consisting of two hospitable Dachshund Pongrácz and Pinotage, Ruby the Jack Russel and the friendly Blümmenweiler pups Chiante and Rosé. Pontac the trusty Boerbul, Tinta, the gentle Great Dane and the Ridgeback, aptly named Malbec, complete the welcoming committee. |
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TOASTING 350 YEARS |
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“Today praise be to God, wine was pressed for the first time from Cape grapes…” Yes, you’ve guessed it – Jan van Riebeeck’s journal entry of 2 February 1659. And without taxing your arithmetical skills too much, that places it just neatly 350 years ago. Since that entry was made, the South African wine industry has come a long way and today our wines are not only enjoyed and appreciated locally, they are also sought-after the world over. In tribute we raise a glass to all those pioneers who have made this possible!
Peter Bayly
Peter Bayly’s Cape Vintage Port
One Life, Live IT introduces the famous Peter Bayly's Cape Vintage Port. Connoisseurs already anxiously looking forward to an opportunity for this promising new product trials.
Peter and his wife Yvonne are the proud owners of Bayly's Farm, 7 hectares, situated in the beautiful Green Fountain Park Conservancy near Calitzdorp. This area is known for its excellent selection of South African port wine.
Peter has made his mark in the Capetown trade. In the seventies he cattle as an independent entrepreneur the grill room of the highly successful Walters Grill Steak House in Sea Point. With other companies Bayly and Farthings Restaurant Peter has an enormous contribution to the high quality even where Cape Town now renowned. After many years at the top of his class, he in the nineties a new, more ambitious step: the creation of the exclusive Hotel Ellerman House in Bantry Bay.
Meanwhile, the name 'Peter Bayly' has become a quality and style. Peter may have no training in the field of wine, but he bought a vineyard. What he may miss wine experience is more than offset by his passion, focus, perseverance and an exceptional feel for the essence of quality.
Peter and Yvonne base the production of their port on which each step in the production of the very highest standards to meet. Soil condition and irrigation and pruning to bottling. Each detail should best be spent. From the 7 hectare vineyard is cultivated only 1.2, which enables them every aspect of production meticulously with the utmost care to surround.
A vineyard that consists only of the varieties Tinta Barocca, Touriga Nacional and Souzào have just the right ingredients in the house. In South Africa, these three varieties profiles that match very well with their counterparts in Portugal, the country where the port its name derives.
The wine cellar at Bayly's, officially established in 2002, is small and traditionally furnished. There are two open Lagar for the resignation of the grapes. And because the traditional way of making enough port, attract friends and family loyal to the small valley at their feet together to purple colors. The sap is using gravity through a sieve to a reservoir. Then pumped to the tanks to a capacity of 1,000 liters for alcoholisatie. Then it is stored in wooden barrels of 500 liters for one third filled, and then stored in stainless steel tanks of 1,000 liters to the process of bottling.
This wonderful port can now be ordered at WINE2U
Quick Overview
Blended from 57% Touriga Naçional, 26% Tinta Barocca and 17% Souzào.
Dark, deeply extracted purplish-black ,multi-layered with masses of concentrated red fruit and ripe tannins, with an attractive dryness and tannic grip on the finish. All components are well balanced
Alc. Vol 20%
Sugar 89 g/l
Total Acid 5.6
500 ml.
total production 7500 Bottle.
Product Description
Blended from 57% Touriga Naçional, 26% Tinta Barocca and 17% Souzào.
Dark, deeply extracted purplish-black ,multi-layered with masses of concentrated red fruit and ripe tannins, with an attractive dryness and tannic grip on the finish. All components are well balanced
Alc. Vol 20%
Sugar 89 g/l
Total Acid 5.6
500 ml.
Koelenbosch
Koelenhof Wine Cellar invites you to explore a wide variety of fruity flavoured wines. These wines represent the hard work and dedication of 75 wine farmers in our region and is managed under the watchfull eye of the De Vries family, since 1941. Manager, Helmie de Vries, supported by winemakers, Wilhelm de Vries and Martin Stevens, enjoy making their wine with care and attention!
Wines available for tasting include a pleasant range of easy-drinking wines, as well as our selection of fine cultivars. We are especially proud of our Merlot, recently awarded with gold and double-gold Veritas Awards. The ever-popular Pinotage Rosé has been the flagship for many years, as well as the well known off-dry Koelenhoffer, available in 750ml and 1 litre.
BEST VALUE WINE AWARDS 2005… WINE Magazine
WINE Magazines’ awards for good value wines under R40.
Koelnektar 2005 (Gewürztraminer)
Koelenbosch Merlot 2003
Koelenbosch Pinotage 2003
MICHELANGELO AWARDS 2005
Koelenbosch Chenin Blanc 2004 (wooded) SILVER MEDAL
WINEMAKERS’ CHOICE AWARDS 2005
In the first year of these awards more than 600 wines were judged. 5% received a ‘Highly regarded’ award and 8.5% a ‘Diamant’ awards.
Koelenbosch Merlot 2003 Diamant Award
Koelenbosch Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Highly Regarded Award
WINE-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB
Koelenbosch Pinotage 2003 chosen for the ‘Wine-of-the-month Reserve Club’.
VERITAS 2005
Koelenbosch Merlot 2003 BRONZ
Koelenbosch Pinotage 2003 BRONZ
Koelenbosch Cape Blend 2003 BRONZ
Pino Porto LBV 2002 BRONZ
Kloovenburg
Energy and enthusiasm, purpose and vision. The Du Toits of Kloovenburg have these - by the barrelful. Enough to achieve the high standards they have set for their wines - and enough to maintain a proud family tradition through decades to come. Come and enjoy the fruits of their labours - at Kloovenburg.
Elgin Vintners
the elgin vintners
The Elgin Vintners is a partnership of 6 dedicated grape growers who, believing in the excellence of the Elgin terroir and diversity of their vineyards, have combined their resources to cultivate, produce and market their range of fine quality wines in the Elgin Valley.
The advantage they have over individual producers is that their grapes can be specifically cultivated and selected from a variety of different terroirs, custom vinified and blended to produce wines of superior quality, which can be varied to meet the demands of the consumer. Each member of the Elgin Vintners team brings a unique expertise to the partnership but it is under the guidance of viticulturalist and wine guru, Paul Wallace, that the vineyards are tended to ensure wines of a standard which has resulted in the Elgin Vintners achieving awards both locally and overseas
the elgin valley
The beautiful Elgin Valley is a high inland plateau, completely surrounded by mountains, just 70km from Cape Town, South Africa. It is rapidly gaining a reputation for the production of premium quality wines. This is the home of The Elgin Vintners, publishers of fine wines, a close knit partnership of 6 dedicated wine growers from the Elgin Valley.
The Elgin Vintners single biggest advantage is the biodiversity of their vineyards, spread over a radius of 12km with an unrivalled spectrum of terroir, soils, aspects, altitudes and meso-climates. Aided by the cool Elgin Valley climate, they strive for vines that are in perfect balance with an ideal crop load-to-leaf ratio, yielding grapes that reach physiological and phenolic ripeness simultaneously. It is the blending of these essential elements that contributes to the fine quality of the wines from this region. Paul Wallace, viticulturist consultant and partner in Elgin Vintners, has over 30 years experience in the wine industry.
Through careful selection of the grapes from a variety of unique vineyards, he is able to maximise the complexity and character for each individual wine.
Total Plantings
Total Plantings amongst the Elgin Vintners partners total approx 101 hectares and include the white varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viogner and Rhine Riesling. The red varieties include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. Recent plantings will soon come into production and give us greater scope in product range, style and volume.
Vinification
Vinification is outsourced by Elgin Vintners to well known winemakers who have been identified for a particular style, flair and affinity with the variety in question. These include Jeff Grier of Villiera (Sauvignon Blanc), Niels Verburg of Luddite (Shiraz and Viogner), Henry Kotze of Eikendal (Merlot Rosé) and Kevin Grant (Chardonnay).
Justin Hoy of Highlands Road Estate vinifies our Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec in his newly completed cellar and together with Paul & Nicky Wallace perfects our flagship blend, Agama.
Our Shareholders
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Paul WallacePaul Wallace, viticulturist and grape grower has over 30 years experience in the wine industry and is viticultural consultant to many well known South African wine estates, lends his expertise to farming and production of our own product. Paul’s farm, Wallovale Vineyards, in Elgin which is currently planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Malbec. 2 hectares of wetlands have been cleared of alien vegetation and will be preserved as part of a corridor of interlinked natural rivers and dams. |
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Derek CorderDerek Corder, owner of Beaulieu and Southern Cross Farms, on which the Elgin Vintners Tasting Room and office are situated, is a well-respected farmer within the Elgin Valley. He is Chairman of Two-A-Day and Elgin Fruit Juices. Beaulieu Farm consists of apple and pear orchards and has 10.85 hectare under vineyard. The varieties planted are Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Viognier, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Beaulieu farm is Eurepgap and Nature's Choice Gold accredited supplying Top Fruit to Tesco through Two-A-Day and Capespan. Beaulieu is IPW compliant and BWI accredited. |
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Alastair MoodieAlastair Moodie is CEO of The Melsetter Group which includes the fruit marketing company Fruitways. Fruitways together with Capespan are the main suppliers of SA Top Fruit to Tesco. A total of 15 hectares are planted to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The plantings of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are on a unique plateau at 550m above sea level some of the highest in the ward. All Melsetter Top Fruit, Wine and Citrus production units are Eurepgap and Tesco Nature's Choice Gold accredited. Melsetter’s Eikenhof farm is currently in the process of applying for BWI Championship status and boasts 4 hectares of established indigenous forest. |
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James Rawbone-ViljoenJames Rawbone-Viljoen sits on the Theewaterskloof Development Forum, which addresses matters such as housing and the economic development of the greater Grabouw/Elgin area. James' farms, Blauwkrans, Helderfontein and Drumearn, are planted to a total of 12.10 hectares of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier are also Eurepgap and Nature's Choice Gold accredited and supply Top Fruit to Tesco through TAD and Capespan, and are IPW compliant and BWI accredited. |
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Max HahnMax Hahn is the owner of Elgin Orchards which currently has 29.13 hectares under vineyard. Varieties include Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Elgin Orchards, a supplier of Top Fruit to Tesco through Fruitways since 2002 is also Tesco Nature's Choice and Eurepgap Gold accredited. Elgin Orchards is BWI accredited and IPW compliant. |
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Rob SempleRob Semple, a contract manager in the Elgin District adds solid viticultural and farming advice to the group. He has recently planted Rhine Riesling on his farm Brookelands. Rob is the ‘Crocodile Dundee’ of the group with a passionate interest in nature and all things fauna and flora. Rob’s wife, Andrea, employs a team of local ladies to produce a stunning range of topiaries made from indigenous “fynbos” vegetation. |
our wines
The first edition, published in 2005, was a Sauvignon Blanc. Since then, subsequent vintages have been released with consistently improving quality, with the most recent Sauvignon Blanc achieving delightful reviews.
The red wines, which are showing elegant fruit and excellent balance, are already drinking very well and will benefit even further with maturation. The Elgin Vintners flagship red, Agama, has been selected from only the best barrels to meet the desired standard of quality of The Elgin Vintners team.
Other reds include a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Easy Red.
To be released later this year will be the Maiden Vintage of the Elgin Vintners Pinot Noir 2006 and the superb 2nd Edition Shiraz 2006.
An experimental parcel of Viognier is presently in barrel under the watchful eye of Niels Verburg.
Willowcreek
Willow Creek has been in the Rabie family since the late seventeen hundreds. In 1999 Andries planted the first olive trees amongst the vineyards, table grapes, wheat and vegetables on the farm. In 2002, the first oil was pressed with an Oliomio press with a capacity of 50kg per hour. Since the very first year of producing oil, Willow Creek has been blessed with awards. In 2003 they were able to upgrade to a 500kg per hour two stage Pieralisi decanter. And in 2007, increased their capacity further by acquiring a 3,5 tonne per hour Alfa Laval decanter. They feel privileged to say that through the years the quality of Willow Creek’s extra virgin olive oil has been confirmed by numerous International awards.
The terroir of the Nuy Valley lends itself perfectly for growing high quality olives. The calcium rich soils, the Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cold winters, the high variances between day and night temperatures, the winter rainfall of 160mm – 180mm annually along with access to the Keerom dam which ensures they can irrigate when, and as much as needed, all aid in the flavour development of the olives and ensures top quality oil.
Willow Creek pressed 180,000 litres olive oil this season and 270 ha have been planted with 173,000 olive trees.