WILDEKRANS WINE ESTATE
SEPTEMBER 2012
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CELLAR NEWS
HARVEST REPORT
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WILDEKRANS COTTAGES Page 5
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CELLAR NEWS
WINEMAKER – WILLIAM WILKINSON “The Wildekrans cellar was the recipient of an excellent harvest in 2012. This certainly makes life a lot easier for the creative talents of the winemaking team lead by William Wilkinson a veteran of 10 harvests! We were also fortunate to recently acquire the services of Nicolas Follet, the only French champagne consultant working in South Africa, to assist us in our goal of producing the best bubbly in SA. Born and bred in Epernay, the centre of champagne production in France, he brings five generations of experience in making quality champagne and white wines. He is very excited with perceived further improvements in our already stunning Chenin based MCC (a past SA Terroir 2009 and 2010 National Winner ) and our maiden vintage Chardonay Pinot Noir Rose MCC.
We at Wildekrans were more than excited, to be awarded the SA Top Wine Estate Trophy at the recent SA Terroir Awards held at the end of July 2012. This was something we’ve been planning for and working towards, but the result was achieved in half the expected time and it is a trophy we accepted with great pride An extraordinary achievement for our team and has certainly set the benchmark really high for the years to come – a standard we’re going to have to work really hard at maintaining. I have no doubt our dedicated team already have their sights set on next year and watch the budding vineyards with eager anticipation and lots of expectation!!
Our Maiden Osiris Sauvignon Blanc 2011 was the result of the input of winemaking legends Kevin Grant, Bartho Eksteen and Francois Naude, working with William to find an optimum blend of 5 different Sauvignon Blanc tanks produced from different blocks, different ballings and even one slightly wooded. The final product is a sublimely elegant, partly tank and partly oak barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc. We aim to do this again with our 2012 vintage. Adding to our flagship Osiris range, was our Barrel Select 2009 Shiraz. It was a well received addition to our range of premium reds complimenting our consistent award winning Osiris Barrel Select Pinotage. The 2009 Osiris Pinotage scooping a Double Gold Grand d`Or award at the 2011 Michaelangelo International Wine
http://www.terroirwineawards.co.za
Awards and Gold medal at the Monde Selection Wine Awards in Brussels, and the 2008 vintage an ABSA Top Ten finisher and Gold medal recipient at Monde Selection and Veritas Awards. And our 2011 Osiris Barrel Selection Pinotage (still in barrels) won Gold and was a National Class winner in the prestigious SA Young Wine Show. This success and the Platter 4* 2007 Jake White Cape Blend being a Top Three winner at the Perold ABSA Cape Blend competition in 2011, has convinced us to add a new Cape Blend to our premium Osiris range this year; 40% Pinotage, 40% Shiraz and 20 % Cab Sav. Limited quantities expected so be sure to watch out for it and get in your orders early. William, supported by “Pino Doyen” Francois Naude, continues to tweak our approach to producing quality red wines. The present Pinotage and Shiraz is showing intense dark berries and toffee notes and a special minty freshness of fynbos, a hallmark of our terroir. Another 24 months in new French Oak should add complexity and smooth tanins, and ready for the discerning red wine lover. The Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc grapes harvested for the Osiris range this year, were whole bunch pressed and partly tank and partly barrel fermented, to optimally manage fermentation temperature so as to reduce the risk of overheating and losing the primary fruit flavours. The 2010 Osiris wooded Chenin received a position in the TOP 100 Wines in SA Competition with our 2010 Osiris Wooded Chenin Blanc, and the maiden 2009 vintage wooded Chenin was a National Terroir trophy winner.
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WILDEKRANS WINE ESTATE
SEPTEMBER 2012
WILDEKRANS WINE ESTATE
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ESTATE BACKGROUND Under the new ownership of the Harlow Family, Wildekrans Wine Estate has seen increased investment in the land, personnel and their processes as part of a goal to create South Africa’s top wines. This ambitious aim is already seeing success as Wildekrans has now won more awards in the last four years than in the 12 years prior to the Harlow, Levy’s and Varejes partnership taking ownership. In 2012 Wildekrans was named ‘Top Wine Estate in South Africa’ at the Novare SA Terrior Awards, a show that rewards consistency across all wines entered.
wine has become both a passion and a priority in more recent years. Twelve hectares have recently been planted under olives, both eating and oil varieties.
This 1020 hectare estate was originally established as a mixed farming operation. Today Wildekrans still produces export quality fruit from its 20 hectares under plum and pear orchards, but
The estate is presently planted to around 75 hectares of most red and white varietals with future plantings set to enrich and balance the portfolio. The 2012 harvest produced 300 tons of grapes which return
One of the standout features of the Wildekrans Wine Estate is the exceptionally rare terroir. Situated near the famous whale watching town of Hermanus, Wildekrans benefits from the rocky terrain and the cool sea breeze that regularly sweeps across the vines in the afternoon. It’s these same features that make it the perfect habitat for one of South Africa’s rare species of flora, Renosterveld fynbos.
resulted in the production of 300 000 bottles of wine. Expectations of 2013 are an increase to 400 tons as younger vines reach maturity and this should result in 400 000 bottles being produced. 2011 saw the addition of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, two quintessential cool climate varietals, destined for a future variation of the estate’s Cap Classique. Along with the rejuvenation of the farming interests, the old buildings on the estate have been renovated and transformed into beautiful weekend cottages, a small conference and wedding venue. The original cellar has been restored to its’ former glory and a polo field is currently under construction on the banks of the Bot River.
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HARVEST REPORT 2012 BRAAM GERICKE – VITICULTURIST The past year has been one where Mother Nature challenged our abilities and belief. Cold conditions during winter resulted in good and even bud burst. With vineyard monitoring taking place on a regular basis healthy growth was present. The heat wave in the first week of January this year, was a big surprise and thank goodness all our vineyards are under irrigation. Short pulse irrigation combined with green bunch harvesting led to good juice quality. Higher than usual cool Atlantic sea winds that we are fortunate to get, also assisted and we noticed smaller berries and thicker skins this year. So notwithstanding some erratic weather patterns in the latter part of the growth season, in general it also contributed to optimum phenolic ripeness being achieved at lower ballings and delayed expected harvest dates.
ample water on our farm, great terroir, and good cool summer sea winds, contributed equally to what we think will be a bumper year. We harvested approx. 300 tons, up 46 tons from last year as a result of newer blocks coming on-stream. This will increase in future years when all 70 hectares planted are in full production, but the focus will remain on optimizing yields for quality not quantity. One thing about the vineyards on this amazing estate, some dating back to 1982, is they perform best in difficult weather conditions, with this year being no exception.
We hope you will enjoy the wines we make from this vintage. 2012 will go down we believe as a great year for quality wines, especially reds.
Once again, but particularly for the 2012 harvest, 4
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COTTAGES AND FUNCTIONS
COMMUNITY SEPTEMBER 2012 OUTREACH PROGRAMME
Wildekrans’ cottages have had a busy year being host to a variety of visitors.
We at Wildekrans take our place in the community of Bot River very seriously.
Families on a peaceful get-away enjoying the wide-open spaces, walks, mountain biking and horse riding on the estate and relaxing at our beautiful pool.
As an employer in the area the wellbeing, education and social development of our employees, their families and the broader community is our foremost concern.
WILDEKRANS WINE ESTATE
The excitement of the Cape Epic was evident with the number of spectators who visited and riders and their families who stayed in the cottages. The Epic course traverses Wildekrans and it is a perfect spot for spectators, with those staying with us able to watch the riders from the comfort of their cottages on what was a very cold and rainy weekend this year. The riders of Wines to Whales also come through Wildekrans. We’ve had a multitude of wine writers, bloggers and the odd celebrity visit during the various festivals that are held in the area. Spring on the estate is really beautiful and we look forward to welcoming old friends and new.
For reservations please contact Janine.
Most recent projects have been the sponsorship of the Bot River Rugby Club, who wear their new Springbok Rugby Legends jersey’s with great pride! and the annual trip, by the grade nines of Bot River High School, to the open day at Stellenbosch University. A large proportion of the children have never left Bot River and a trip like this, that opens their eyes and minds to the possibility of further education is invaluable to the community. The children of Bot River Primary will come to the farm this week to make scarecrows for the vineyards. The winning class will be treated to a day at the aquarium in Cape Town.
uitspan@wildekrans.com
CHRIS AND EMMY-LOU’S FIVE DAY WEDDING - APRIL 2012 A FABULOUS, FUN FILLED FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAD TRAVELLED FROM FAR AND WIDE TO JOIN CHRIS AND EM CELEBRATE THEIR COUNTRY WEDDING. GUESTS STAYED AT OUR COTTAGES AND THE WEDDING HELD ON THE DECK OVERLOOKING THE BOT RIVER AND SPECTACULAR SCENERY WITH A RECEPTION HELD IN THE OLD BARN. 5
WILDEKRANS WINE ESTATE
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WE WOULD LOVE TO WELCOME YOU TO WILDEKRANS +27 (0)28 284 9902
PLEASE VISIT US
www.wildekrans.com