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South Africa Producers
Name: South Africa
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Change seems to be Anthony Hamilton Russell’s watchword. Since taking over from his father and company founder Tim in the early nineties he has changed the vines, the method of farming, and in conjunction with some stellar winemakers – the quality. Employees become so besotted with the valley and the opportunities that they leave to set up their own wineries, including Newton Johnson, Hannes Storm and Ataraxia; all seeded by Hamilton Russell.
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Jordan farm has a 300 year history, but husband and wife team Gary and Kathy Jordan have been making wine here since 1993. Their story doesn`t begin there, though; Gary`s parents had acquired the farm a decade earlier and embarked on an extensive replanting programme. So Gary and later Kathy had a good idea what was in store for them, and before settling for good at Jordan they spent two years getting experience working internationally.
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Kanonkop may be famous for its Pinotage but in my opinion it is the Bordeaux blends and varietals that are the jewels in the crown. The vineyards are right to the top of the Kanonkop hill and their altitude, exposure to sun and wind, and their climate are all superb.
Noted south African Specialist Tim Atkin MW has Kanonkop firmly ensconced in the First Growth section of his Cape Classification. There are two main reasons for this, one is terroir. in the accepted sense of location, soils, climate and so on. The second is terroir with the addition of skilled human intervention.
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Former television executive Samantha O’Keefe left her native California and settled in South Africa in the early 2000s. Arriving with her two small children, she went ahead and bought a mountain. Her land is located in Greyton and she planted her first vines in 2004. Her choice of site seemed bizarre to many and she really is out on a limb when compared to the major wine producing areas in the country. However, her steadfastness and determination saw her small estate grow into something truly remarkable and she is now recognised as a pioneer for a new and exciting appellation.
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Rustenberg has been a must-visit on any trip to the Cape since the late seventeenth century, yet while they hold their tradition and heritage close to their heart, they aren`t afraid to exploit the best of the modern in viticulture and cellar practice. They run their own nursery to avoid the common problem of commercial nursery`s selling you the wrong vines; everything is hand-harvested; and over the years site selection for each vine variety has been rigorously researched and fine-tuned. -
Eben Sadie has now made 10 vintages of Columella, after a stint with Charles Back at Spice Route. Based in previously unfashionable Swartland, he is now one of a number of celebrated young artisanal winemakers there, though still the leading one, by common acclaim. He`s learnt a lot in the last 10 to 12 years, he says, not least the importance of being in the same place for a period, learning the vineyards and vines and gaining experience with different vintages. For instance, only in 2004 did he realise quite how good a season 2000 - his first - had been.
