Brookdale Estate has released its latest vintages, including its first Grenache Noir, vintage 2025, and Grenache Blanc 2025, of which fewer than 1000 bottles were produced. The new wines join Brookdale’s Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024, two blended whites – the Bradbourne Estate Blend 2025 and the Sixteen Field Blend 2025 – as well as the red Twenty Field Blend 2025.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein mountains in Paarl, Brookdale Estate produces wines as unexpected as they are enchanting. A Cinderella story, it was once overgrown and underused. The Rudd family, originally from the United Kingdom, recognised its potential and acquired the 67-hectare property in 2015. Their vision was to create a world-class country estate producing fine wines that included interesting blends crafted from varietals that are somewhat ‘unusual’ in South Africa. This vision is now being realised, some years after the maiden release in 2017 from a single block of (certified Old Vine) Chenin Blanc, planted around 1985. New vineyards have been established, and today there are 24 hectares are under vine at Brookdale.
True to its guiding philosophy of curiosity and exploration, Brookdale continues to innovate and push boundaries with each passing vintage. Winemaker Xander Sadie comments that the 2025 vintage was outstanding across the board. “The season was characterised by beneficial late rains and a slow, steady ripening period. As a result, we are pleased to have produced truly exceptional wines.
“Our long-term vision for Brookdale is to showcase the estate through the most honest expression of winemaking and viticulture,” says Sadie. “In doing so, we present wines in their purest form – through field blends, estate blends, and two selected single-varietal wines that best reflect the farm.”
This approach also led to this year’s release of the fifth vintage of the Sixteen White Field Blend and the second vintage of the Twenty Red Field Blend.
The Old Vine Chenin Blanc and the new Grenache Noir represent Brookdale’s single-varietal expressions, while the range of Estate wines include the white Bradbourne Estate Blend, as well as a red Estate blend, which is still in development.
Brookdale’s very first Grenache Blanc is produced in extremely limited quantities. It will not form part of the permanent range and will be available exclusively to Brookdale Wine Club members and to diners at the estate’s Bistro, one of South Africa’s top restaurants according to the Eat Out guide. “The wine will not be available through retail outlets or other sales channels, making this a truly limited and special release,” says Sadie.
With a diverse selection of varieties planted on the farm – many of which are not typically bottled as single varietals – the intention is to produce small, limited releases in vintages when a particular variety truly stands out. “These bottlings allow our clients to remain curious and to explore these wines alongside us, gaining insight into how each variety expresses itself on its own, yet contributes to blends, and evolves with age,” Sadie concluded.
Brookdale wines are available at the tasting room and Bistro on the Estate, online, as well as in fine wine stores and selected restaurants around the world.
Article sponsored by Brookdale