DGB could be referred to as "terroir fanatics”, the company has a remarkable track record of investing in high-quality wine-growing regions, specialised wards, and old vine vineyards, crafting some of the best South African wines from specific varieties best suited to these regions.
A commitment which is exemplified and evident through various projects across the Cape Winelands.
The next chapter: Preserving Helderberg Terroir
The latest development in this ongoing mission in nurturing and preserving exceptional Cape terroir has been several investments into prime Helderberg vineyards.
Often hailed as the most coveted terroir within the broader Stellenbosch region, The Helderberg is particularly renowned for "blue-chip" red grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Syrah. The region has a long and storied history of producing some of South Africa's finest red wines.
However, given a series of challenges and the appeal of more profitable uses for the land, several farmers in the Helderberg Mountain were not prepared to re-invest into their vineyards – much of which were infected with leafroll virus, and were considering the planting of alternative crops or stopping farming altogether.
These would be devastating decisions which would’ve seen the loss of some of the best terroir in South Africa, and as a result no wine produced from these sites for many years to come.
“As special as they were in their heyday, my old, virus infected, low yielding vineyards on the farm became a drastic financial burden and made me consider halting my farming activities. I am extremely excited about my partnership with DGB as we have a shared vision of replanting these soils with quality vines intended to grow to healthy old age for generations to come,” explains Rupert McNaught-Davis, the owner of one of the properties.
Stellenbosch while regarded as the epicenter of high-quality red grapes, has seen the area under vine for premium red grapes been reduced by more than 11% over the last 15 years, with the area under vine of premium red grapes younger than 15 years now sitting at 70% less compared to 20 years ago.
As such, the preservation of these sites as healthy vineyards is instrumental to the continued production of fine South African red wines.
“We are determined to preserve this remarkable terroir and build on our previous investment in the area over the past decade. We currently have 31 hectares planted on the Helderberg Mountain with all of the grapes going into our flagship red wines,” says Stephan Joubert, Group Winemaker at DGB.
The next phase of this investment will see the planting of 100 additional hectares of vineyards across six different properties, all on the upper slopes of the Helderberg Mountain with exceptional soils. A region recently lauded by Master of Wine, Tim Atkin, as having vineyards worthy of a title equivalent to France’s Grand Cru status.
“Within the Helderberg I would get even more specific! Thinking in terms of a concept like ‘Grand Cru’, I think the areas around Taaibosch and Uva Mira (where DGB’s new and existing vineyards are located) are very special indeed,” noted the expert in conversation with Jono Le Feuvre for wine.co.za.
The plan for these sites is to plant several varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec as well as Chardonnay on the South facing slopes. All of the sites will be planted at high density to ensure low yields, with stringent measures in place to keep these vineyards free from viruses, nurturing them into a healthy old age.
It is an approach aligned with the “Plant to Grow Old” philosophy of the Old Vine Project, advocating for the cultivation of the "Old Vines" of the future. By selecting ideal varietals and sites from the start, DGB aims to create vineyards that will stand the test of time.
The investment in the Helderberg is not just a financial endeavor; in fact, it is a significant and lengthy commitment which will only provide fruit (and cashflow) in many years to come, an exercise which certainly does not excite the accountants; however, it exemplifies the passion for terroir and the preservation of these exceptional vineyard sites.
“This next step confirms our confidence in the region as well as our confidence in the future of South African fine wine in both local and global markets. These investments are the exciting next steps in our long journey in preserving more of the Cape’s phenomenal vineyards and fantastic terroir,” says DGB Marketing Director, Andrew Harris.
Terroir fanatics: A history of investment in unique wine regions
DGB have long been committed to the preservation of South Africa’s remarkable and unique terroirs, with a plethora of ongoing projects baring testament to this vision.
In the Elgin region, where vineyards are often uprooted in favour of more lucrative crops like apples and pears, DGB recognised the dwindling of these vineyards and invested in a property, primarily devoted to apple cultivation, which they subsequently replaced with Chardonnay vineyards. The resulting wines have been recognised year after year by international judges and critics alike.
When it comes to Old Vines, The Bellingham Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc, launched more than two decades ago, was the first wine which celebrated the potential of "Old Vineyards" and has since become an icon of South African Chenin Blanc. Subsequently, The Old Vine Project is now a well-recognised movement and DGB is the largest producer of wine from “Certified Heritage Vineyards”, which makes a major contribution to the preservation of viable old vineyards in special terroir across the winelands.
They have also been instrumental in the establishment of unique wine-growing wards. Stephan Joubert, DGB Group Winemaker, drove the establishment of the "Koo Plateau" ward which saw the planting of vineyards at an altitude of over 1000 meters above sea level. The extreme location will produce superb Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinotage and the first harvest is planned for 2024.
Another such example is that of the Bamboes Bay Ward, which is the smallest ward as well as the closest vineyard to the sea in South Africa. Fryer’s Cove is the sole winery in this ward and is slowly expanding its vineyard plantings in this remarkable location.
Globally recognised as one of the highly regarded South African producers, DGB’s impressive portfolio includes prestigious household names like Boschendal, Bellingham, Backsberg, Franschhoek Cellar, Old Road Wine Co, Fryers Cove, and Brampton amongst others.