Vineyards & Winemaking
Viticulture
We work exclusively with dry-land (unirrigated) bush vines.
Ensuring proper soil preparation and effectively managing pests and weeds are essential for sustaining the vegetation.
Given that the majority of the vineyards with which we partner are over thirty years old, their root systems are firmly established, providing the vines with essential nutrients and flavour components.
Our relationship with our producers and our shared understanding of our precise objectives are both critical.
WINEMAKING
The philosophy underlying our winemaking is to immortalise the vineyard in the bottle with minimal effort. Our guiding principle is that miracles are unnecessary in the winery when we receive healthy, ripe grapes with a low pH and excellent natural acidity.
Our winemaking process involves the exclusive use of old barrels, and our Chenin Blancs often undergo spontaneous malolactic fermentation, an additional element that contributes to the wines’ complexity.
The cellar is located at Diemerskraal in Wellington. Wellington’s central location guarantees that the grapes, which originate from Stellenbosch, Darling, Paarl, and Swartland, will reach the winery prior to the commencement of the morning breakfast hour. During the scorching month of February, cooling and reserve electricity are essential, and the winery was constructed with these functions in mind.
Vineyards
1974 Old Bush Vine Chenin Blanc
Location: Agter-Paarl
Everything in the vineyard is executed with devotion and precision, including mulching, cover crops, and soil health management. 1974 marked the planting of this Chenin Blanc vineyard; the vines have taken the form of imposing, large goblets. The surface soil is composed of brittle “koffieklip” and decomposed Malmesbury shale. The face of the slope is eastward.
This site imparts concentration, floral aromas, and flavours reminiscent of yellow and white stone fruits.
1954 Old Bush Vine Cinsaut
Location: Agter-Paarl
Everything in the vineyard is executed with devotion and precision, including mulching, cover crops, and soil health management. This Cinsaut vineyard was established at the top of the hill in 1954. The soil composition of this weathered shale is less stony and more decomposed than that of the Chenin Blanc vineyard established in 1974.
This site contributes a delicate natural acidity, minerality, and an enticing profile of red cherry and raspberry fruit.
Brand se Berg Chenin Blanc
Location: Agter-Paarl
Old, dry-land bush vines planted very close to the 1974 Chenin Blanc vineyard. The slope is also eastern facing, and consists of Malmesbury shale soil with a high clay content, resulting in slower ripening than the 1974 vineyard. Marius Jr. is dwarfed by some of these vines.
In addition to contributing stone fruits, citrus, and minerality, the wines made from this site is more refined than those from the rocky site planted in 1974.
Die Kliphuis Chenin Blanc
Location: Paardeberg
The vines were planted in 1977 on a hill with an incredible view of Table Mountain on its Cape Town side and the Boland mountains on the other side. It is a miracle that these vines survived the sandy soils. When you are in the vineyard it seems very remote and isolated. The vines are planted on a southern facing slope, which is always windy and cool and thereby creating a special micro climate.
This site produces intense, precise and linear wines with a racy natural acidity, salinity, citrus and herbaceous undertones.
Granaatfontein
Location: Paardeberg
Nollie, whom we refer to as the “barefoot farmer,” delights in having his feet in the soil. Devoted to his Swartland property, he is consistently upbeat and enthusiastic. Planting cover crops increases the nutrient content of the soil, which is an organic principle upheld by him. In 1968, on the mid-slopes of the Paardeberg, the Chenin Blanc block was planted in sandy, decomposed granite soils. His exquisite Semillon vineyard is also a component of our Swartland white blend, called “Die Messelaar”.
This vineyard produces a very precise, focused and linear style of Chenin Blanc.
Rhenosterbosrug Chenin Blanc
Location: Paardeberg
Old Bush Vines planted in 1983. Good vineyard practices, and organic material from the diary farm is worked backed into soils. The vineyard is situated on the lower slopes of the Paarderberg, with soils of decomposed granite and clay.
This site adds intriguing notes of citrus, hay, and minerality, and delivers wines with elegance and layers of different textures.
Waterkloof
Location: Stellenbosch
Heaven on earth, with vineyards planted in 1976 high up in a valley between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg mountains. Beautiful gardens with old trees and fountains of living water flowing through the property provide spectacular scenery. The splendour of the surroundings takes your breath away when you visit these old bush vines, which are the source of our “Donkermaan” Chenin Blanc.
Darling
Location: Darling
Established in 1985 on decomposed granite soils, these Chenin Blanc and Cinsaut vineyards are situated in close proximity to the ocean and stands to gain from the Darling region’s milder climate. As a new addition to the Roodekrantz portfolio, we are excited to get to know these vineyards better and unlock their true potential.
