Hemelrand it is situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360m above sea level, on gravelly clay, and Sandstone. The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin Blanc, and Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. However, the proportions of the different grapes produced significantly varies each vintage. Viticulturally speaking this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity.

The grapes were picked early in the morning, sorting in the vineyard, and wholebunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice. Wild fermentation took place in old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasted for about two months. The wine was kept on lees for 12 months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further 6 months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.

“We had lovely moderate temperatures during the ripening season, punctuated by regular rain. The Chenin Blanc in particular starting developing beautiful dry noble rot (botrytis) several days before picking. We always have some noble rot in Hemelrand, but the amount and the quality thereof in 2023 separates this vintage from all previous vintages. The nose shows the classic stone fruit and exotic flavours that we expect from Vine Garden, but then there’s dried orange peel and apricot from the noble berries. The palate is full and quite powerful. The usual high acidity carries the whole wine to a long, tapered finish.” – Winemaker’s notes

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.5% | RS 2.7 g/l | TA 5.8 g/l | pH 3.39