Before we give you an update on the 2018 harvest, we’d like to share this piece that was published by several researchers in South Africa:

“The South African wine industry is bracing itself for what might be the smallest harvest in more than a decade. The drought conditions that have been prevalent in the Western Cape for the third consecutive season will have a major effect on the 2018 harvest. Drought, a shrinking area under vines and frost damage will have the greatest effect on the crop size. Even though the 2018 harvest might be much smaller, vineyards are in a very good condition due to frequent rainfall in October and November, as well as cooler weather up to the end of November. Vineyard growth is generally good and there have been no noteworthy occurrences of fungal diseases or pests. The low dam levels and insufficient water resources are most likely to have the greatest determinant of a smaller 2018 harvest. Good, regular showers in December and January may of course bring great relief and change the outlook for the better.” Continue Reading

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.

LET’S START FROM THE BEGINNING: WHAT IS A LATE HARVEST WINE?

“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

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!

STAY WITH US

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.

Continue Reading

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.