I am not here to dictate to Mother Nature, nor will I ever complain about what she gives. She sets the rules, we adjust. But having only just seen the back of a three-year drought (our worst yet), I will say that we’ve become well acquainted with this Mother’s more demanding side. And in the process, proven that listening to her cries and demands is a pretty good idea – and the key to an excellent harvest.
Article reference: www.frontrowsociety.net
Aaldering – A picturesque winery and luxury accommodation
“We have a winery in South Africa.” With these words, a long-cherished dream for the Dutch entrepreneur couple Marianne and Fons Aaldering became a reality. In 2004, the couple acquired 24 hectares of land in one of the best wine-growing regions in the world, Stellenbosch, at the southern end of the African continent.
Coming from the long driveway rises the picturesque winery of the Aaldering family / © Editiorial FrontRowSociety.net
Ireland, Belgium, Finland, Balkan, Thailand and the USA are just a few more countries where you might find a selection of Aaldering wines in the near future. At the recent Prowein 2018 trade show in Dusseldorf, most of our existing importers and new connections sampled our latest vintages. Once again, Prowein was a success and we’re excited to share our range with even more wine lovers around the world!
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.
“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
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