Have you ordered your limited edition Magnums yet? Christmas might seem far away, but we’re already (almost) half-way through the year! Our winemaker chose the Aaldering Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot as the star of this new Magnum series. The iconic wine is ready to be enjoyed, but will also cellar well for another 10 to 12 years. Continue Reading
Has 2018 been kind to you thus far? At Aaldering, the future looks promising. We are in the process of renewing our vines, which means you will
Last year, we identified certain blocks of the vineyard that were simply not good enough. As part of our ongoing effort to meet your high standards (and our own),
we started clearing a number of hectares. This will be replanted with new cultivars. They say patience is a virtue and you might have to dig deep – the process can take up to six years. But we believe the results will be worth it.
To compensate for the loss of revenue during this time, we have bought just under 4 hectares of our neighbour Blake’s best land. Soil sampling was done in collaboration with external specialists and consultants.
The planting of new varieties – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec – will be subject to environmental factors, such as wind direction, sun, water and quality of the soil. We are working closely with specialists from Stellenbosch University to ensure optimum conditions for our new vines.
It’s a winemaker’s dream come true: to produce a wonderful golden dessert wine. The Aaldering Noble Late Harvest will be for sale from 2018.
“Late harvest wine is wine made from grapes left on the vine longer than usual. Late harvest is usually an indication of a sweet dessert wine. Late harvest grapes are often more similar to raisins, but have been naturally dehydrated while on the vine.” Continue Reading
At the recent Nederburg Auction of rare South African wines, our Aaldering Shiraz 2007 sold for a record-breaking R6 000 a case! This jewel occupies a very special place in our hearts. It is the first vintage we produced at Aaldering.
This was also the last of our Shiraz 2007, but fortunately our more recent vintages are now available. As our spiciest grape, you can expect aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, white pepper and cloves on the nose with a full structure on the palate. Needless to say, the ageing potential is at least 10 years!
Clear blue skies, sprawling vineyards and an average temperature of 26 degrees Celcius… This and more make Stellenbosch a summer hotspot. But if you want to experience all the good without the rest of the world, you will find peace and privacy in our luxury lodges, situated on Aaldering Vineyards & Wines in Devon Valley. We have three guest houses that offer 5-star accommodation. And a home away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Start your day with a farm-style breakfast and end it with sundowners by the pool… So where are you going this summer?
COOL IN THE POOL
Our new sparkling swimming pool will help you beat the heat during your stay in our luxury lodges. Along with a chilled bottle of Aaldering Sauvignon Blanc, of course! Completed just in time for summer, this 26-metre pool has a rim flow and overlooks the dam. When you’re done lounging by the pool, you can continue the relaxation in the bubble tub. A sul-soothing escape indeed!
The story of Aaldering (Lady) Y starts in Japan. And we have the president of our Japanese importer, Vinos Yamazaki, to thank for it.
Yuko Tanemoto saw our success with Aaldering Lady M – a Pinotage with intense fruit flavours and an elegant structure. She wanted a special wine for her birthday. So she made a trip to South Africa and together with our winemaker Guillaume they made a blend with her name on it.
In its second year now, the private label wine is based on our Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, which is barrel matured for 25 months. Continue Reading
ProWein is highly regarded as the number one international trade fair for wines and spirits. The annual three-day event takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Aaldering was 1 of 22 South African wines represented at the Wines of South Africa stand from 19 to 21 March. Madri Gerber and Gert-Jan Posthuma went along to introduce potential new importers to Aaldering’s latest vintages, which were very well received. They also used this opportunity to strengthen relationships with our current importers.
We’re looking forward to next year’s event!
ProWein attracts key decision makers from around the world. This year saw a record number of 58 500 visitors over 3 days.
Shiraz is our spiciest grape on the Aaldering Estate. It complements oriental dishes and a local favourite, roast pork belly. Try it with this recipe.
The 2013 vintage is the result of two different batches from the north and west-facing vineyards, blended together after a beautiful harvest. Rich with plenty concentration and a good combination of dark fruit and spice, you get aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, white pepper and cloves on the nose and a full structure on the palate.
The shiraz vineyards have now been divided into smaller sections that are managed separately due to differences in soil type, vigour and time of ripening. This ensures all our grapes are harvested as close as possible to the optimal ripeness levels, while each area receives individual attention.
Watch as our winemaker Guillaume Nell gets spicy.
This year, we’re toasting our 10th harvest at Aaldering Vineyards & Wines with a vintage worth celebrating.
The 2017 harvest started on 23 February – 11 days later than the 2016 vintage. Caught in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years, this has been our driest harvest yet. While we were blessed with the occasional drizzle towards the end, we did not have enough water to supplement irrigation.
On average, Stellenbosch was 20% cooler than last year. We experienced mild days and cool nights. In mid-February, usually the hottest month of the year, we had a few days where the temperature reached mid-thirties. These scorchers were followed by rather chilly evenings.
The Aaldering crop was as robust as last year with an increase in Shiraz. This was as a result of viticultural practices and is not vintage related. Despite the drought, the quality is expected the surpass that of 2016 and in some cases, even 2015.
Compared to last year, the red varieties have great colour, good concentration and softer tannins. The white varieties have good flavour. In the cellar, the available nutrients in the juice for the yeast was below average, but fermentations went smooth without any hiccups.
It’s safe to say that you can lift your glass, in good time, to an exceptional vintage from our 10th harvest.
The second edition of The South African Dream Wine Magazine has just been released. A magazine in which you will read about every little detail of our estate vineyards, the winemaking process, what to do when you are spending 24 hours in Stellenbosch, and The Big Five Delight to name a few examples.
The reason of our existence as a boutique winery is celebrated with the featuring of three top fine dining experiences. Starring The Test Kitchen in Cape Town, Trussardi alla Scala in Milan and Rijks Restaurant in Amsterdam. Mouthwatering stories and worthwhile a check on your bucket list.
Recent Comments