OLDENBURG VINEYARDS - STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA
Philosophy – A Sense of Place
Oldenburg Vineyards is located in the Banghoek Valley situated in the mountains above Stellenbosch. Our neighbours include Thelema, Tokara, Delaire, Bartinney, Camberley and Rainbows End. We have approximately thirty hectares of vineyards, with Rondekop hill as the centrepiece.
Oldenburg Vineyards is located in the Banghoek Valley (pronounced “bun hook” and meaning “scary corner” due to leopards roaming around in times past) about 8 km from Stellenbosch.
If one had to find a single word that best describes our overall philosophy it would be balance. We realise that we are very fortunate with our terroir and know that we need to work in balance with nature as it is central to who, what, and where we are. Balance in the vineyard is essential to capture the best nature has to offer and equally we strive to make wines with great balance, complexity and elegance.
We strongly believe that the success of our wines will ultimately come from realising the potential that our vineyards and nature have to offer. Also, great wines will ultimately come from optimising each vine’s ability to produce grapes with the correct balance of acidity, sugars and physiological ripeness. One of our core beliefs is that wine is an encapsulation of what nature does best. We believe that by working closely with nature we can ensure a consistent high standard of quality. This must be done with sustainability in mind.
The 8 Natural Elements
We believe that Oldenburg is a place of extraordinary peace and beauty. It has become clear to us that there are 8 Natural Elements – rarely ever found in a single location – which all contribute to the uniqueness of our farm, and the potential to produce wines of singular quality.
The influence of two oceans (the Atlantic and the Indian) in close proximity to our vineyards, the mountain ranges throughout the Cape Winelands, the mountain amphitheatre that creates our corner of the Banghoek, the elevation of our vineyards (we are situated in a hanging valley, between 300m and 410m), the cooling effect of the south-east wind, our mineral-rich soils and the 8th element at the centre of it all: Rondekop itself.
Adrian Vanderspuy & Vanessa Vanderspuy - Proprietors
Winemaking
Oldenburg Vineyards produces smaller quantities of hand crafted wines. Low bunch loading on the vines through stringent crop thinning procedures ensure that only the best grapes make it to the winery. The harvest provides the nexus between the vineyards and the making of the wine. Extensive pre-harvest fruit analysis ensures the correct level of sugar ripeness (correct sugar-acid balance) and phenolic ripeness (correct tannic structure of the seeds and skins), to provide the perfect fruit.
Once the grapes are picked, they are transported in bins to a refrigerated container where they are stored at optimum temperatures before being transported to the cellar. A high degree of coordination is needed to ensure that the cellar is ready to receive the harvest, which happens over a period of weeks.
Once in the cellar the grapes are cooled to protect the flavour and finally hand sorted prior to crushing. During vinification we use natural processes with maximum respect shown to the fruit. Gravity plays a big role in order to minimise mechanical grape handling. Correct yeast selection is essential to emphasize the aromas, and cooperage selection and combination support the intrinsic characteristics of the grapes.
The maturation and the final blending of the wine is an intricate and closely monitored process with the ultimate aim of creating uniquely Oldenburg wines, which are characteristic of their grape cultivar and the soils which bore them, true to their terroir and sense of place.
Chenin Blanc
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2018
Tim Atkin SA Report 2019: 92 points
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2016
Tim Atkin SA Report 2017: 91 points
Platter’s Guide 2018: 4 Stars
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2015
Jancis Robinson “South African Chenin hogs the limelight” 16 Points
John Platter Guide Ratings: 4 Stars
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2013
IWSC 2015: GOLD & TROPHY
IWC 2015: GOLD & TROPHY
Michelangelo Int. Wine Awards 2014: GOLD
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2012
John Platter Guide 2014: 4*/5
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2013: 93 points
Derek Smedley MW 2013: 91 points
Jancis Robinson 2013: 17/20
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2011
Neil Pendock Wine Guide 2013: 5*/5
John Platter Guide 2013: 4.5*/5
Top 100 SA Wines 2012: AWARDED
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2012: 91 points
JancisRobinson.com 2012: 17/20
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2010
International Wine Challenge 2011: GOLD
John Platter Guide 2012: 4*/5
Chardonnay
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2018
Tim Atkin SA Report 2019: 92 points
Michelangelo Int. Wine Awards 2019: GOLD
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2017
Tim Atkin SA Report 2018: 90 points
Platter's Guide 2019: 4 Stars
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2016
Tim Atkin SA Report 2017: 90 points
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2015
John Platter Guide Ratings: 4 Stars
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2013
John Platter Guide 2015: 4*/5
Winestyle People’s Choice 2014: DOUBLE GOLD
Michelangelo Int. Wine Awards 2014: GOLD
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2012
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 2013: 92 points
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2013: 93 points
Derek Smedley MW 2013: 92 points
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2011
Neil Pendock Wine Guide 2013: 5*/5
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 2012: 93 points
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2012: 93 points
Cabernet Sauvignon
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2015
Tim Atkin SA Report 2017: 93 points
Platter’s Guide 2019: 4.5 Stars
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2014
Platter’s Guide 2018: 4 Stars
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2013
Tim Atkin 2016 SA Report: 90 Points
John Platter 2017: 4.5 Stars
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2012
Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2015: Top 10 (91 points)
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2011
John Platter Guide 2015: 5*/5
Christian Eedes Cabernet Sauvignon Report 2014: Top 10 (4*/5)
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2010
Mundus Vini 2014: GOLD
John Platter Guide 2014: 4*/5
Derek Smedley 2013: 92 points
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 2013: 91 points
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2013: 91 points
Classic Wine Magazine 2013: Top 6 (4*/5)
JancisRobinson.com 2012: 17/20
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2009
John Platter Guide 2013: 4*/5
Neil Pendock Wine Guide 2013: 4*/5
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2012: 93 points
Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) 2012: 90 points
International Wine & Spirits Competition 2012: GOLD
Classic Wine Magazine 2012: Top 6 (4.5*/5 + top scorer)
John Platter Guide 2012: 4*/5
JancisRobinson.com 2012: 17/20
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2009
Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Selection
Top 100 SA Wines 2014: Awarded
John Platter Guide 2014: 4*/5
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2008
John Platter Guide 2011: 4*/5
Wine Magazine 2011: 4*/5
Top 100 SA Wines 2011: AWARDED
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2015
Tim Atkin SA Report 2017: 93 points
Platter’s Guide 2019: 4.5 Stars
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2014
Cabernet Franc Challenge 2018 – Gold
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2013
Tim Atkin SA Report 2016: 91 Points
SA Top 100 Wines: Double Platinum, Consistency Award
John Platter Guide Ratings: 4 Stars
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2012
Top 100 SA Wines 2015: AWARDED
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2011
John Platter Guide 2015: 4*/5
Mundus Vini 2014: GOLD
Top 100 SA Wines 2014: AWARDED
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2010
Derek Smedley MW 2013: 93 points
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2013: 92 points
Classic Wine Magazine 2013: Top 6 (4*/5)
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2009
Tim Atkin MW 2013: 93 points
Neil Pendock Wine Guide 2013: 5*/5
La Selection Basel 2013: GOLD
Top 100 SA Wines 2012: AWARDED
Jamie Goode (wineanorak.com) 2012: 93 points
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2008
Top 100 SA Wines 2011: AWARDED