Overview: "It's not my first rodeo!" - Nic van Aarde
Harvest is always a busy time at Oldenburg Vineyards, and this month has been no exception, with a harvest concertina effect. Each cultivar has ripened faster than what is typical, so all the timelines are closer together.
Last year's excessive winter rains gave the vines ideal conditions for growth in a cool but dry and windy spring. As we crossed into the new year, the dryness continued as did the winds that generally quieten over the warmer parts of summer. With pretty much no rain for over four months and with plenty of wind, the vineyards had become incredibly dry. In January and February, several heat spikes complicated matters, adding some extra stress to the vineyards and resulting in an earlier harvest. The good news is the overall quality is looking exceptional.
Here's the thing, though; while I may be making it all sound easy, it's not. For us, each vineyard block reacts differently depending on the conditions. We have used our irrigation during the ripening season, which is unusual, but Christo knows that too much stress on the vines is counter-productive. He turns the water on for six hours and each vine receives just enough to quench its thirst only partially. With the wind, we have had plenty of damage to the vineyard blocks on the south side of Rondekop. In some cases, the vines have had extensive leaf loss, and the remaining leaves are torn and cannot photosynthesise. Our assistance has been to cut up to 50% of the bunches off (distressing but necessary), then providing some water, allowing the plant to have a new flush of leaf growth to give it some fresh solar panels. We have also done an immense amount of green harvesting this year, assisting the vines with ripening the fruit they have left.
Then there are the sugars. Nic and Christo continually measure the sugars and taste of the grapes to ascertain optimal ripeness, flavour, and acidity. With heat spikes, sugars can jump quickly and the window for optimal ripeness (as Nic says: "when the flavour pops") can be as short as a day or so. But you can only harvest one thing at a time – harvest is a sequential affair.
I am discussing with Nic and Christo whether we are going to miss the window on this or that. The guys are under stress as they work out the picking plan for the next few days, and specifically how they will get everything through the press. Whole bunch pressing is a gentler method, producing a superior result, but it is a much slower process. I ask: "How are you going to manage?", and Nic replies: "It's not my first rodeo!". Suddenly, I know I can relax – they've got this!
We proudly announce that our Oldenburg Vineyards Rondekop Rhodium 2021 and Per Se 2021 are included in the World's Best Sommeliers' Selection. The selection was invitation only, and successful wines were selected based on their story and overall quality. These wines will be released in May.
We are excited to have been welcomed into WWF South Africa's Conservation Champions programme. We are proud to join a select number of wine farms as a biodiversity champion. The program commits members to biodiversity-friendly and regenerative farming practices, conservation of their natural areas, and improving their water and energy efficiencies.
When we were showing the farm to the WWF team, Christo and I were driving them around the farm; at one point, we were showing them a recently planted indigenous section of the farm and were commenting about how these 'fynbos corridors' were excellent for helping to breed large guinea fowl flocks. Suddenly, and as if on queue, a flock of fifty or so day-old chicks ran from the vineyard cover crop into the fynbos to take cover from us. A magical moment!
We still have a few more weeks to capture all that harvest 2024 offers. One of the things I get excited about is watching the daily changes in the weather and seeing massive diurnal swings of up to 25°C, from a very refreshing 10°C to a hot 35°C, which reminds me how special and unique our position in the mountains is. I have absolutely no doubts that Nic, Christo, and their team, with a bit of help from Rondekop, will produce some absolute gems this harvest – I can't wait to find out what!
Review: Oldenburg Chardonnay 2023, a testament to excellence
Set to be unveiled in March 2024, the Oldenburg Vineyards Chardonnay 2023 is poised to continue the legacy of its predecessors. Building upon the resounding success of the 2021 and 2022 vintages, both recipients of the coveted 5-star rating in the Platter's Wine Guide, and the 2022 vintage achieving an impressive 94 points from Anthony Mueller of Robert Parker: The Wine Advocate, anticipation for the newest release is palpable.
The Chardonnay 2023 presents a nuanced bouquet, with the nose offering a slightly more subdued yet inviting array of aromas compared to its predecessors.
Expect to encounter notes of green melon, star jasmine, and ripe nectarines, teasing the senses. On the palate, the wine unveils a symphony of flavours.
Subtle hints of coconut shavings and chamomile intermingle with lively bursts of lemon zest, creating a delightful complexity. Layers of pine nuts and delicate white lilies contribute depth to the tasting experience.
The 2023 vintage boasts a strikingly zesty acidity that carries the array of aromas and flavours to a lingering finish, leaving a lasting impression on the palate.
The Oldenburg Vineyards Chardonnay 2023 will be offered at R385 upon its release. For enthusiasts eager to secure early access to this highly anticipated vintage, our private client sommelier, Stefan Reinmuth, is available for enquiries.
Additionally, for those seeking to bolster their collections with the acclaimed Chardonnay 2022 before it inevitably sells out, Stefan can facilitate acquisitions to ensure access to this exceptional wine.
Interview: Freda-Marizen Jacobs
This month we are delighted to introduce another recent addition to The Tasting Room team – Freda-Marizen Jacobs. Freda hails from another wine region – Robertson – where she discovered her passion for wine. Matriculating in 2015, she was considering a career in nursing but opted to take a gap year instead, to decide where her future would lie.
After trying her hand at one or two jobs, she had the opportunity to work in a tasting room on weekends. The rest, as they say, is history. She started off as a runner and kept her eyes and ears open to learn as much as she could about wine.
One day, she was asked to take a few German guests on an impromptu cellar tour and did such an excellent job, it cemented her employment. She spent the next seven and a half years there, continuing to develop her knowledge of – and love for – wine.
We asked her what it is about her role at Oldenburg Vineyards that really excites her, and she says it is because the wine speaks for itself. Often, she pours the wine and allows the guests to talk about the wine before she offers her insights.
Chardonnay is her favourite cultivar, loving both more elegant and heavier styles. In her spare time, Freda likes to read – but only books about wine (she is currently reading The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil). She also enjoys watching the occasional TV show.
An unusual (and unexpected) fact about Freda – she describes herself as an introvert. While she enjoys her interactions with the guests and presents a more extroverted version of herself at work, in private she prefers to take a step back.
Freda’s single biggest learning moment in wine was applying for her WSET 3. While she had already built a solid wine knowledge base through her sommelier training, she found the challenge of WSET 3 both humbling and hugely motivating to study and expand her knowledge even further. Freda is still on her WSET 3 journey. Her goal is to complete the Level 3, and one day pursue her Master of Wine.
We asked her if there are any people in the industry that she looks up to as role models. “Too many to mention,” she laughed, but went on to name local sommeliers that inspire her – including Roxanne Waldeck, Spencer Fondaumiere, Joseph Dhafana – and our own Stefan Reinmuth. She admires their work ethic, what they are achieving in the industry, and she sees the various skills she aspires to acquire, to continue building her own abilities and career.
Welcome, Freda!
Bird's eye view: Library and vertical tastings in March 2024
Vertical tasting: Merlot
A comparative tasting showcasing the best vintages of our cooler-climate Merlot, including the 2013, 2014 (Magnum), 2016 and 2017.
Cost: R450 per person
Library tasting: Extremely Rare Tasting
A very special selection of our rarest wines – the Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select 2009, Rhodium 2012 and the Joshua Syrah 2007.
Cost: R600 per person
All library and vertical tastings are strictly by appointment, only. Tastings include our complimentary snack platter consisting of olives, cheese and olive oil crackers.
Book your visit to Oldenburg via thetastingroom@oldenburgvineyards.com or call 021 885 1618.