Overview: The alchemy of blending
October has arrived, and with it, spring is now in full swing, bathing the Banghoek Valley in an iridescent green. Everything is growing at a fast clip, and for our vineyard team, it's a focused juggle to stay ahead of Nature's energy. It is always fascinating to observe how this natural energy works. Everything has been kept under winter wraps, patiently waiting for the precise amount of warmth and light to trigger its "growth moment."
This Spring marks a return of Rondekop to its full glory. The younger vineyard blocks are maturing beautifully, filling in the landscape so that the entire hill is a blaze of colour.
Walking through the vineyards is such a pleasure, where I can genuinely admire (and yes, I do mean admire) the incredible detail of each block. Every block presents a unique puzzle: one has different trellising methods, another has distinct cultivar spacing, and all feature diverse cover crops—the list goes on. I would include soils as well, but nowadays it is increasingly difficult to find earth because it is so well covered with vital, protective vegetation, all part of the Plan to build a more resilient ecosystem.
Our cows have returned from the vineyards to their summer pastures among the Pecan trees. Meanwhile, the pigs have begun their vineyard trials. Their task is to remove weeds from the vineyard rows without nibbling the vines! We also received new arrivals this month—about a dozen piglets. They will need to grow before they can be introduced to the vineyards.
In the cellar, Nic and Lucillia have been spending many hours locked away in the laboratory, blending the 2024 reds and 2025 whites. Blending often implies mixing different cultivars, such as Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Merlot, as in our Rhodium Blend. However, in many cases, blending can also involve a single cultivar. For example, identifying all the component barrels and vineyard blocks of Chardonnay to produce the most appealing expression of our vineyards, as we do with Una V.
Nic believes that blending is a complex and exciting process of discovery. It's about choosing the best vineyard blocks and barrel components and understanding how each contributes to the final wine. It also involves creating structure, with one element providing a strong backbone, another offering aromatic freshness, and a third adding textured depth.
With many of our new Chardonnay plantings harvested for the first time in 2025, it is especially exciting to see how their unique contributions are now available to Nic, allowing him to add layers of complexity.
Ultimately, the blending process must establish a connection to our place on Rondekop. This is a challenging process that requires not only an excellent palate but also a willingness to experiment and continually search for the hallowed point. At this moment, harmony meets complexity, resulting in perfectly balanced wines.
Alchemy indeed!
I invite you to watch our video where Nic and Lucillia discuss the Alchemy of blending- perhaps even imparting some of the secrets!
ReView: Oldenburg Vineyards Chardonnay 2024
The 2024 vintage offers a beautifully balanced expression of Chardonnay, thanks to an ideal growing season that yielded wines with structure, harmony, and finesse. The wine was aged for 10 months in 24% new oak, resulting in a wine of quiet confidence, with purity and textural richness at its core.
On the nose, orange blossom, lime, and a whisper of brioche introduce the wine with freshness and refinement. The palate is layered and expressive: white peach, roasted pineapple, bruised yellow apple, and a touch of roasted almond. There’s a lovely balance between zest and creaminess—a wine that coats the palate yet remains lifted and composed. Only 2638 cases were produced.