Vondeling’s vineyards line the slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, located just outside Paarl, only 45 min from Cape Town. Our farm is rich in indigenous flora, known as fynbos, which we strive to protect and preserve.
Vondeling has a holistic approach in the vineyards and our minimalistic approach in the cellar ensures that we not only express our environment but more specifically, the unique growing conditions of each vintage. Our granitic soils and cool southwest-facing slopes create the perfect climate for growing premium grapes. All our grapes are hand-picked in the cool morning hours and transported a short distance to our boutique cellar. The dynamic slopes and soils we have allowed us to farm and produce a wider assortment of grapes and wine styles than usual.
Harvest 2022: Challenges & Highlights
Harvest was slightly later than usual due to cool conditions at bud burst and generally, temperatures remained moderate throughout the growing season. There were a few hot weeks in late January, until February and we were seeing some exceptional early Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinotage. Severe heat typically delays picking of the late-ripening grapes, like Cabernet Sauvignon, but with some minor irrigation, we were able to support the vines during these times of stress and luckily, they soon recovered with no lasting damage to the grapes. Happily, these brief delays give us extra time to put lots of effort into the tough mid-season ripeners – like Merlot and Shiraz.
The 2022 vintage will be remembered as a cooler season with sporadic heat waves in January and February. Picking took place over a long period of time allowing for greater attention to detail in the cellar. Production for 2022 was below average and quality across the range was of a very high standard. White wines that have been released so far have been exceptional and the wines currently maturing in barrel are of exceptionally high quality.
Growing seasons are never the same. Wine farmers need to be dynamic to nurture the vines as best they can and similarly winemakers need to be intuitive to coax the most potential from each batch of grapes.
Fun Fact About Vondeling Wines
Vondeling was first awarded to Olaf Bergh, by then Governor of the Cape, Willem van der Stel, in 1704. Olof Bergh also owned Groot Constantia making these two great farms some of the oldest wine farms in the Cape.
Region Characteristics & Grape Harvesting at Vondeling Wines
Soil Types & Composition
Like the nearby Paarl Rock, the Paardeberg Mountain is one of the largest granite outcrops in the world. These ancient granite-derived soils also include deposits of sedimentary shales, gravel and sandstone.
Granite-rich soil, although normally low in nitrogen, often contains high amounts of phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and calcium. These are soil profiles that uniquely influence vine growth, grape flavour, and concentration – all of which are crucial factors that play a role in quality grape harvesting.
This is one of the main reasons why Vondeling focuses so intently on putting nutrients back into our soil so that it can continue to provide quality grapes for generations to come. It all begins with respecting nature by employing sustainable farming practices.
Vineyard Growing Methods
When it comes to growing grapes for a particular wine style, there are a few viticultural techniques and vineyard factors to consider. Based on these factors farmers in different regions may grow their grapes in a variety of different ways.
Factors to consider before selecting a trellising method will include:
- the aspect of the vineyard, the soil vigour or fertility,
- the availability of water in the area,
- the climate and
- the amount of labour available.
By considering these factors, Vondeling uses two main methods to grow and maintain our vineyards: A. Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) and B. Bush Vines.
- Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) is a commonly used method in modern-day grape cultivation. This method involves growing vines in rows along a trellis wire where each grapevine has one or two support stakes. Trellising allows for maximum airflow, thereby reducing disease pressure and consequently reducing the need for harsh pesticides. It supports drip irrigation, which uses very little water and offers additional sun exposure for the vines, meaning that the plant’s photosynthesis is maximised for optimal ripening.
- Bush Vines are possibly one of the oldest methods used in grape cultivation. In its simplest form, vineyards are shaped into low bushes and little or no support is offered to the plant. This method is a great way for farmers to protect and shade their grapes from the harsh sun and vigorous winds. On Vondeling we use this method for the vines that grow on our steeper slopes, especially those with increased exposer to the sun.
2022 Harvest: Our Final Thoughts
We believe that with minimal intervention during our winemaking process and a particular focus on wine grape sustainability, our wines are created with a unique fingerprint of origin. Our hands-on approach includes basket pressing, hand plunging, and limited filtering before sending our grapes off to beautiful French Oak barrels for maturation.
Are you interested in putting our wine to the test? Visit us at www.vondelinwines.co.za
