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 stand, barefoot of course, watching as the sunrise slowly spread its rays across Rondekop, gradually making its way over the rocky ridge that towers above the farm.
It has been another fantastic year in the Oldenburg journey. At the beginning of the year, we received a welcome accolade from the WWF SA as a Conservation Champion – ;a strong endorsement of our regenerative farming and viticulture. This accolade marked a milestone rather than a destination in our collaboration with Nature. I think 2024 will be the year we mark our official shift to regenerative viticulture, although this is something we have practised for several years. Our growth is from a deeper understanding of the science, its benefits, and how best to apply the principles. Our foundational practices are now firmly in place, and I am confident that we will go much further with exciting results.
After eight years of replanting our vineyards, we end the Generation 3 replanting programme. To combat the almost ruinous impact of the leaf roll virus, we needed to remove a little over twenty hectares of our vineyards – two-thirds of them! We doubled the vineyard blocks to 35 from 18 with the subsequent replanting. Rondekop is now a patchwork or jigsaw of carefully delineated vineyard blocks perfectly aligned with their sites and the many positive attributes favouring the best possible wine quality.
Our replanting programme represents a complete reengineering of our vineyards and farm. We have drawn on extensive winemaking experience, coupled with soil science and advanced viticultural technology, all of which underpin our decisions. To date, what we have achieved is world-class, and I expect the results from this programme to be similar. It isn’t easy to express our collective excitement about what comes next!
The results of the earlier plantings are beginning to turn into wines, and we are awed by their quality. In November, we released the Una V Maiden Vintage – 2023 Chardonnay, the first of our newly replanted vineyards to be bottled and released. This one is not to be missed. Some of the new vineyard reds will be bottled soon, and our excitement for them is on par.
The release of Una V, named after my grandmother, has also given birth to a philosophy called The Rondekop Garden. Her inspiration for working with Nature and gardening was an inspirational catalyst in our approach to viticulture and, more broadly, farming. The Rondekop Garden Philosophy connects our Place, People, and Practices. It focuses on precision and detailed execution while emphasising sustainability and harmoniously working with the natural elements.
And whilst Nature is the ultimate decider in the outcome; a farm, a business, and terroir, are also about people. I am hugely proud of the team we have built here. Nic leads the business through the lens of his winemaking, which is precisely how we want to approach things. Christo undoubtedly has the ‘greenest fingers’ out there – and when it comes to a vine or any plant, there is no second best!
Elsewhere in the business, we have a team full of passion and ambition. Together, we are on an extraordinary journey to create unique wines. The team continues to deliver and is happy to challenge themselves to further excellence. Our journey is only possible with the passionate and energetic individuals working behind the scenes. Their contributions are invaluable, and I thank each one for driving us forward.
Our customers keep the oxygen in our business. I am deeply thankful to all for their loyalty, custom, and fantastic feedback. Your feedback is crucial to our growth and development, and I also appreciate those who challenge us and help us improve.
Lastly, the entire team in The Tasting Room deserves a standing ovation this year. They tell our story, bringing our wines to life and they do it with such panache – bravo! Please see the video for a sense of what the team is doing in The Tasting Room.
Thanks to all, and cheers to a great Chapter 2024!
