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
What I love most about the farm is its constant demonstration of Nature’s Raw Power. The team’s profound love for Nature is a common thread that binds us all, though for each of us it’s a deeply personal connection. Last week, some guests commented to me as they were leaving that the view from The … Continued
As a valued member of the Rondekop Wine Club, you have priority access to our newest releases, as well as exclusive invitations to bespoke wine dinners. This month, we are excited to present a special offer: a handpicked selection of wines from Private Client Sommelier, Stefan. This exclusive offering allows you to delve deeper … Continued
We’ve got some exciting new developments to share this month. As part of our regenerative farming practices, we have three brand new team members to introduce: two Dexter cows, a calf and a litter of Kolbroek pigs. These new additions will be helping with weed control through grazing.
This month we are acquainting ourselves with the person on the farm who – apart from the winemaker – probably has a hand on every bottle of wine produced: the logistics and warehouse manager. Adéle Basson became a part of the Oldenburg Vineyards team on the 1st of June this year, and stepped into a … Continued
It’s been a while since we’ve had domesticated animals on the farm – apart from dogs and the vast array of chickens wandering around Nic and Christo’s gardens. A few cows previously provided fresh milk and some freshly made, rich, creamy butter. I no longer eat breakfast, but I remember childhood days fondly – a … Continued
The valley is truly in the heart of winter, with lots of rain and plenty of precious cold units for the vines recovery. Nic updates us on what winter on the farm has been like, shares what’s happening in the cellar with Vintage 2024 and Christo talks about the very important practice of pruning.
The Grenache Noir 2022 made a subtle debut in our Tasting Room this year. We produce only 500 cases of this wine, making it a limited release available exclusively in the Tasting Room and to our Rondekop Wine Club members. This wine is a firm favourite among many as it appeals to both white and … Continued
June, July, and August are typically the winter months in the Cape, but June surprised us with unseasonably warm weather this year. This unexpected twist had us on our toes, particularly with the potential for budburst to start early on the Chardonnay blocks — yet another climate change aberration. Then the arrival of July brought … Continued
We return to our InterVIEW segment this month to introduce you to Thabo Ntuthu, who is one of our Senior Sommeliers at The Tasting Room. Thabo was also recently named as one of WineLand Magazine’s 30 Under 30 – a prestigious list of promising young talent in the South African wine industry. Thabo grew … Continued
After the resounding success of our Rondekop release in May, we are excited to share some news with you. The Stone Axe Syrah 2022 – the first Rondekop wine to don our new label – holds a captivating story. This updated label is a significant step forward in our journey to create a unique identity … Continued
Now and again, I take a few minutes to reflect on how I got to this point. How would things have turned out if such and such had happened, and who played a significant role? As it would with most, family members feature highly in these thoughts, and there is no doubt that family is … Continued
