OUR PHILOSOPHY
The source of distinctive wines is quality grapes and thus the vintners work begins in the vineyards.
Vines vary greatly in their soil, climatic and topographical requirements. No single vineyard can satisfy the needs of all grape varieties. We select vineyard where individual varieties excel. Emphasis placed on caring viticultural practices by dedicated growers together with careful winemaking contribute to this pursuit of excellence in the art of winemaking.
VINEYARDS
The noble heart of South African wine. A varied tapestry of smaller appellations, such as Jonkershoek and Bottelary Hills, provide a diversity of mesoclimates, soils and vineyard sites stretching from the majestic Alpine like Jonkershoek to the slopes of the Bottelary Hills and Simonsberg. Topographically one of the most diverse wine regions in the world.
The soils are mostly deep, red clay soils. Vineyard altitudes range on average of 300m above sea level.
At first sight a seemingly fruitless landscape. There a no majestic mountains, no tranquil streams. The days are long and dry, the nights are bitterly cold. Beyond the eye a hidden treasure lies below. Deep rich red soils. Here, where the chilly Atlantic meets the Cape West coast the dryland vineyards flourish.
The deep, red, decomposed granite has a good water holding capacity which is suitable for dryland cultivation. All the vineyards are bush vines that lead to a great complexity and fruit intensity in the wines as the bunches on the vine are all exposed to different conditions.
A mountain plateau cradled by majestic peaks. As the coolest wine growing region in the Cape the unique climate allows for long, slow consistent ripening. This climate combined with a diversity of soil types and aspects, partnered with selected pockets of the classic Chardonnay, yields expressive terroir-driven fruit.
The soils range from white mineral sandstone and quartz soils known as Table Mountain sandstone to deep red clay soils from the parent rocks of Kouebokkeveld shale and koffieklip. Average altitude 300 metres.
The mountain vineyards of Piekenierskloof, a stone throw from the majestic, high altitude Cederberg Wilderness Area, are known to produce outstanding Grenache sourced from dry land bush vines.
These bush vines were planted in 1964 on their own roots, un-grafted and still completely disease-free, complementing the elegance, finesse, and sweetness of fruit in the wines. The extreme temperatures of the Piekenierskloof can range between dry, hot days to extremely cold nights. The soils are mostly Table Mountain sandstone and shale.
Our award-winning Grenache is sourced from these extraordinary vineyards.
