With the arrival of freshly harvested white grapes in the cellar, we catch up with winemaker Nic van Aarde to explore the fascinating process these grapes will undergo this year. One technique used for white wines is a lesser-known Burgundian method known as Black Chardonnay, which involves the hyperoxidation of the juice before fermentation. … Continued
Welcome to 2025! May the year bring you happiness, pleasant surprises, and opportunities! To some, 2025 was often used at school (or just for future-gazing) as that long way into the future— ‘imagine you are in the year 2025…’ Well, it’s arrived – are things how you imagined them? One thing is for sure, … Continued
Adrian Vanderspuy, owner of Banghoek property Oldenburg since 2003, realised in the mid-2010s that leaf-roll virus was fundamentally compromising his vision of making world-class wine, and so a programme of replanting was begun – a little over 20ha out of a total of 30ha were subsequently removed, while total number of vineyard blocks increased from … Continued
November mornings have been wonderful – cool and crisp. The sky is cobalt blue, my favourite colour, and often, the mountains look like cardboard cutouts – which occurs when the air is crystal clear. This morning, the freshness of the past night had left the grass drenched in moisture. It was a great place to … Continued
After a recent visit to Oldenburg Vineyards, wine industry strategist Mike Carter shares his thoughts on his time with us. He explores how our wines are crafted in harmony with nature through our focus on regenerative farming practices, and discusses with Nic the importance of our commitment to sustainability as an investment in the future. … Continued
With the upcoming release of the Rondekop Una V Chardonnay, Adrian tells us more about the inspiring woman it is named after – his paternal grandmother, Una Vanderspuy. Nic and Adrian also have a taste of this extremely special wine.
The 1st of November saw the anticipated release of the maiden vintage Una V 2023 Rondekop Chardonnay. The wine is a tribute to Una Van der Spuy, Adrian’s grandmother and iconic gardener. It symbolises a love of plants, a spirit of learning and adaptation, an appreciation for the Cape’s natural beauty, and above all, recognition … Continued
The days are getting longer, the sunshine warmer, and the vineyards are a spectacular vibrant green. Before the fruit begins to set on the vine, there are a few more vital processes the vineyard team must tend to. Canopy (leaves, shoots and, later, fruit) management is practiced for a number of reasons, including improving fruit … Continued
Spring continues apace, and as we transitioned from September to October, a few warmer days set everything into hyperdrive – the entire farm was ablaze in fluorescent shades of lime green – a truly spectacular sight! With the farm now fully planted, the vineyard team, with their unwavering dedication, is racing to keep ahead of … Continued
Spring is here, and the farm is coming alive with activity. Nic and Christo tell us a bit more about the new plantings, Nic updates us on the work our Dexter cows have been doing in the vineyards and Greg tells us more about his recent achievement at the South African Best Young Sommelier … Continued
For those eager to get ahead of the festive season rush, Stefan has uncovered something exceptional. Oldenburg Vineyards has bottled fewer than 50 “Jeroboams” in its history. A “Jeroboam” refers to a Bordeaux variety bottled in a 5L format. As many are aware, larger formats take longer to mature, resulting in fresher profiles. Of the … Continued
As we make our way into Spring, the vineyard comes alive with beautiful young green buds. This period is known as budburst or budbreak, triggered by the rise in temperature, it is the first sign of new life after their winter dormancy. However, before we delve further into budburst, it’s important to understand the role … Continued
