From South Africa's Oldest Vines

SA Wine From Old Vines

“In all the winelands of the world, old vines get proudly mentioned on labels, in many languages. Such is the value everywhere accorded to old vineyards and the wines they produce. Only in one country, South Africa, is it possible for that claim to be certified by the regulatory authority. Here, members of the Old Vine Project can put a Certified Heritage Vineyards seal on bottles of wine made from vineyards of 35 years or older, together with the planting date” – OVP founder Rosa Kruger. “Do old vines make better wine? I believe they very often do. Age in vines brings an intensity, a perceived freshness, a texture and a sense of place. They show less fresh fruit and varietal character, and more terroir and soil…”

The following reds, whites and sweets are made using grapes from vines at least 50 years old, some over 100. Click on the producers’ names below for more about the wines and the stories behind them.

AA BADENHORST

• AA Badenhorst Golden Slopes from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1968, WO Swartland
• AA Badenhorst Kelder Steen from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1971, WO Swartland
• AA Badenhorst Klip Kop Steen from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1966, WO Swartland
• AA Badenhorst Raaigras Grenache from vines planted in 1952, WO Swartland
• AA Badenhorst Ramnasgras Cinsault from vines planted in 1954, WO Swartland
• AA Badenhorst Ringmuur Cinsault from vines planted in 1963, WO Swartland
• AA Badenhorst Sk’windjiesvlei Tinta Barocca from vines planted in 1962, WO Swartland

ALHEIT

• La Colline Vineyard / Monument from Semillon vines planted in 1936, WO Franschhoek

ALLÉE BLEUE

• Allée Bleue Old Vine Pinotage from vines planted in 1976, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain

ANTHONIJ RUPERT

• Cape of Good Hope Van Lill & Visser Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1965, WO Citrusdal Mountain
• Kaap de Goede Hoop Laing Groendruif from Semillon vines planted in 1956, WO Citrusdal Mountain

BELLEVUE

• Bellevue Heritage Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1976, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• Bellevue Heritage Cinsault from vines planted in 1952, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• Bellevue Heritage Pinotage from vines planted in 1953, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch

BLACK ELEPHANT

• The Dark Side of the Vine from Semillon vines planted in 1905, WO Franschhoek

BOEKENHOUTSKLOOF

• Boekenhoutskloof Semillon from vines planted between 1902 and 1942, WO Franschhoek

BOSMAN

• Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1952, WO Wellington

CECILIA

• Cecilia Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1962, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain

CHAMONIX

• Chamonix Old Vine Steen from vines planted in 1965, WO Franschhoek

DALKEITH

• Dalkeith Koplandsteen from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1972, WO Stellenbosch

DASCHBOSCH

• Dashbosch Hanepoot from Muscat d’Alexandrie vines planted in 1900, WO Breedekloof
• Dashbosch Mossiedrift Steen from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1960, WO Breedekloof

DAVID & NADIA

• David & Nadia Hoe-Steen Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1962, WO Swartland

DE KLEINE WIJN

• De Kleine Wijn Ou Treffer Cinsault from vines planted in 1954, WO Paarl
• De Kleine Wijn The First XI The Centurion Cinsault from vines planted in 1954, WO Paarl

DE WAAL

• De Waal Top of the Hill from Pinotage vines planted in 1947, WO Stellenbosch

DEMORGENZON

• DeMorgenzon Reserve Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1972, WO Stellenbosch Kloof
• DeMorgenzon The Divas Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1972, WO Stellenbosch Kloof

FAIRVIEW

• Bloemcool Berg en Dal Maanskyn Steen from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1962, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Bloemcool Ploegperd from Chenin Blanc, Palomino and Grenache Blanc vines planted in 1962 and 1974, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Bloemcool Oupa Wingerd from Grenache Noir vines planted in 1973, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain

FLEDGE & CO

• The Fledge & Co Jikken Barrels Nel & Coetzee Steen from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1968, WO Swartland
• The Fledge & Co Jikken Barrels Praeteritus Bosstok Tinta Barocca from vines planted in 1971, WO Swartland

FUSELAGE

• Fuselage Staggerwing Cinsault from vines planted in 1954, WO Paarl

GUARDIAN PEAK

• Donkiesbaai Cinsaut from vines planted in 1967, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain

KAAPZICHT

• The 1947 Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1947, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch

KANONKOP

• Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage from vines planted in 1953, WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

KEEERMONT

• Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1971, WO Stellenbosch

KEN FORRESTER

• Dirty Little Secret from Chenin vines planted in 1965, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Ken Forrester The FMC from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1971 and 1974, WO Helderberg-Stellenbosch

KLAWER

• Villa Esposto Muscat d’Alexandrie Straw Wine from vines planted in 1969, WO Olifants River

KLEIN AMOSKUIL

• The Amos Block Organic Sauvignon Blanc from vines planted in 1965, WO Swartland
• The Amos Block Perpetual Reserve (Sherry-Style) from Sauvignon Blanc vines planted in 1965, WO Swartland

KOELENHOF WINERY

• Stellenbosch 1679 Single Vineyard Old Vine Pinotage from vines planted in 1975, WO Koelenhof-Stellenbosch

L'AVENIR

• L'Avenir Single Block Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1973, WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

LEEU PASSANT

• Leeu Passant Franschhoek Old Vines Lötter Cinsault from vines planted in 1932, WO Franschhoek
• Leeu Passant Wellington Old Vines Basson Cinsault from vines planted in 1900, WO Wellington

MEERENDAL

• Meerendal Heritage Block Pinotage from vines planted in 1955, WO Durbanville

METZER

• Metzer Cinsault from vines planted in 1957, WO Helderberg-Stellenbosch
• Metzer Montane Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1964, WO Helderberg-Stellenbosch

MOOIPLAAS

• Mooiplaas Chenin Blanc Bush Vines from vines planted in 1972, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• Mooiplaas Houmoed Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1972, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch

MULLINEUX

• Mullineux CWG ‘The Gris' Semillon from vines planted in 1967, WO Paardeberg-Swartland

NABYGELEGEN

• Nabygelegen Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1951, WO Wellington

NAUDÉ

• Naudé Old Vines Werfdans Cinsault from vines planted in 1968, WO Western Cape (Darling)

NEIL ELLIS

• Neil Ellis Piekenierskloof Grenache from vines planted in early 1960s, WO Piekenierskloof

OLD ROAD

• Old Road Grand-mère Semillon from vines planted in 1936, WO Franschhoek

PAINTED WOLF

• Painted Wolf Old Vine Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1974, WO Wellington

PIEKENIERSKLOOF WINES

• Piekenierskloof Bergendal Old Vine Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1962, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Piekenierskloof Carel van Zyl Grenache from vines planted in 1973, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Piekenierskloof Heidedal Old Vine Cinsaut from vines planted in 1976, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Piekenierskloof Johan van Zyl Old Vine Pinotage from vines planted in 1976, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Piekenierskloof Old Vine Palomino from vines planted in 1974, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
• Piekenierskloof Samson Straw Wine from Muscat de Frontignan vines planted in 1962, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain

RAATS

• Bruwer Vintners Lone Wolf Cinsault from vines planted in 1953, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch

RICKETY BRIDGE

• Rickety Bridge Old Vine Cinsault from vines planted in 1954, WO Paarl
• The Pilgrimage Old Vine Semillon from vines planted in 1905, WO Franschhoek

ROODEKRANTZ

• Roodekrantz Brand se Berg Old Vine Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1975, WO Paarl
• Roodekrantz Donkermaan Old Vine Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1968, WO Helderberg-Stellenbosch
• Roodekrantz Old Bush Vine Cinsaut from vines planted in 1954, WO Paarl
• Roodekrantz Old Vine Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1974, WO Agter-Paarl

RUSTENBERG

• Rustenberg Muscat of Alexandria (fortified) from vines planted in 1932, WO Calitzdorp

SADIE FAMILY

• Kokerboom from Semillon vines planted in the 1930s, WO Olifants River
• Mev Kirsten from Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1942, WO Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch
• Pofadder from Cinsault vines planted in 1967, WO Swartland
• Skerpioen (blend of Chenin Blanc and Palomino) from vines planted in the 1960s, WO Swartland
• Skurfberg from Chenin Blanc vines planted between 1940 and 1955, WO Olifants River
• ‘T Voetpad (blend of Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Palomino and Muscat d’Alexandrie) from vines planted between 1920 and 1928, WO Swartland
• Treinspoor from Tinta Barocca vines planted in 1974, WO Swartland

SALTARE

• Saltare Old Vine Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1971, WO Paardeberg-Swartland

SAVAGE

• Never Been Asked to Dance from Chenin vines planted in 1956, WO Paarl

SLALEY

• Slaley Pinotage from vines planted in 1955, WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch

STELLENRUST

• ArtiSons Basket Child Cinsault from vines planted in 1972, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• ArtiSons The Albatros White Cinsault from vines planted in 1971/72, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• ArtiSons The Mothership Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1964, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• Stellenrust Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1964, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• Stellenrust Old Bush Vine Cinsaut from vines planted in 1964, WO Bottelary-Stellenbosch
• Stellenrust Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (previously labelled Douwe Steyn) from vines planted in 1942, WO Stellenbosch