There are few varietals as prevalent around the world as Chardonnay. It features front-and-center as much in the Old World (especially in France) as it does in the New World (including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and, of course, South Africa). This grape variety translates growing conditions extremely well. Cool climate examples show an … Continued
Whether it is part of the global trend seen over the past few years, or a complete aberration (only time will tell), but this year’s harvest is undoubtedly early. A combination of factors has brought many of our picking dates forward by up to three weeks compared to last year. The main contributing factor was … Continued
The always eagerly anticipated harvest season has begun, and for the following weeks, the attention of everyone and anyone with an interest in wine turns to the picking, processing and vinification of grapes into wine. With that comes a lot of talk about ripeness – and for the most part, this will generally refer to … Continued
Yoh! It’s the end of January – and harvest is getting into full swing! Join Christo, Nic and Adrian as we pick the first Chenin Blanc from our new stok-by-paaltjie vineyards (the first ever harvest from these vines). The quality of these grapes are looking outstanding, and excitement for the 2023 vintage of Chenin Blanc … Continued
Happy New Year! For us, the new year brings the new harvest, and the ability to focus the minds of the entire team. Just as the turning of one year to the next allows one to review and reset, harvest brings the past and all the hard work into the present, enabling us to project … Continued
‘Tis the season, and nothing quite says festive like a generosity of spirit – perfectly embodied by the abundance of a beautiful magnum. Ideal for festive season lunches, holiday get togethers with friends and family or just an intimate dinner for two (as Winston Churchill so wisely remarked: “A magnum is the perfect size for … Continued
Goedhuis & Co – one of the UK’s renowned fine wine merchants – recently welcomed Oldenburg Vineyards to their portfolio. We wanted to share their introduction email – and the excitement of partnering with them – with you. Introducing Oldenburg Vineyards Outstanding Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay from a rising star of Stellenbosch “To … Continued
The subject of irrigation in viticulture can be a controversial one. Many Old World wine regions consider rainfall the only natural source of water that will retain the terroir characteristics of the vineyard. In other regions, application of irrigation can influence both quality and yield. In Europe, the rules around irrigation of vineyards can be … Continued
I am sitting on the front stoep of The Homestead, wondering where to find the pause button to press. The year has flown by, and we are heading into the final stretch of another eventful year. As I write, I pause, and my eyes rest on a point on the horizon where the cobalt blue … Continued
The 2021 vintage of our stylish and very popular <CL° Red Blend heralds a new take on the blend. This new release is Merlot dominant, at 54%, followed by 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and rounded out with 7% Cabernet Franc.. A wine produce from a cooler vintage, the Merlot component was showing beautiful black-fruit characteristics. … Continued
Moshé Cohen is a Wine Consultant, Dip WSET graduate and podcast host. He recently visited us, walked the farm with Nic and learned more about what makes the Banghoek Valley so unique. The full interview is now available on your favourite podcast platform: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/episode-54-oldenburg-vineyards-nic-van-aarde/id1476258645?i=1000586866066 Google https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzE4NjI5OS9yc3M/episode/ZDI2MzFmNGQtZDk5OC00YmFmLThiNDEtMDgxOTg3NWUwMWQ4?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwio46bDgr_7AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0qwIkJiTFKIQCmooDFNZgK Libsyn https://inthevineyardwith.libsyn.com/episode-54-nic-van-aarde-oldenburg-vineyards … Continued
Yes. You read that right. Flowering. In grapevines. This is a fact that surprises many but grapevines do produce flowers. The flowers are are extremely small, but contain a stamen, anther, stigma and pistil – just like many other types of flowers. Our viticultural interventions do not really affect the flowering process – but the climate … Continued
