As if on cue, the skies have cleared and the rain has moved on, making way for the gentle warmth of spring, at least during the day. It never fails to amaze me how quickly the first shoots burst from what looked like lifeless wood, painting the vineyards in a fresh, lively green. The team swaps their pruning shears for bare hands and gets stuck into suckering, carefully removing any unwanted growth. Christo, always keeping us on our toes, points out that there are only 180 days until harvest. There’s always plenty to do!Meanwhile, as our vineyard team prepares for the upcoming season in the south, winemakers in the Northern Hemisphere have been reflecting on another summer filled with stories about the challenges posed by the changing climate. These range from drought to excessive heat, as well as unusual thunderstorms and hail, all of which can be devastating, not to mention heartbreaking, for growers.In the case of Château Lafleur on the Right Bank in Bordeaux, a hero of ours for their spectacular Cabernet Franc-Merlot blends, they stunned the wine world in late August with the declaration of leaving the Pomerol appellation and the broader Bordeaux AOC system due to its rigidity against irrigation.
Discussing Lafleur’s news with Denis Houles of 1275 Fine Wine Collections, he believes Europe must undergo a wholesale change in the coming years to cope with rising heat. Irrigation will become standard. Different heat-resistant cultivars will be needed to adapt.
In the Cape Winelands, despite the perception that climate change impacts are a significant threat, a shielding effect is provided by the cooling effects of the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic Current, known as the Benguela Current.
Here at Oldenburg Vineyards, our mountain location, with its altitude and associated, diurnal temperature fluctuations, offers the perfect antidote to these persistent global climatic challenges. I often like to think that the rugged mountain wilderness surrounding us provides an excellent contrast to the vineyards on Rondekop, their rhythmic order contrasting with the apparent chaos of nature; both are undeniably stunning.
Our position on the edge of wilderness also means we are constantly dealing with visitors who find our vineyards inviting. We are a regular feeding ground for a small group of buck, who see the new vine shoots as a delicacy. Fences and electric fences around the vineyard blocks help, but those shoots are seemingly irresistible. We have a few porcupines; their nocturnal habits often bring them into the vineyards for a nibble on the irrigation pipes. They usually leave a few quills, for which I am grateful, as I collect them. We undoubtedly have snakes, which, thankfully for someone like me who is snake-phobic, are kept under control by several mongoose families. Unfortunately for Nic, Christo, and their respective chickens, the mongoose have a soft spot for chickens.
We are now releasing the Rondekop Per Se 2022, the Rondekop Rhodium 2022, and the Rondekop Una V 2024. These are undoubtedly the best wines we have made, and we are proud to be able to call them ours. Since the inception of Oldenburg Vineyards in 2003, we have had a simple premise. There is something very special about Rondekop, not just its location in a spectacular mountain wilderness, but also the incredible confluence of factors that allow for the crafting of exceptional wines.
Are we nearly there? Yes, we are!
