Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023

“Hemelrand comes from the vines that are planted around Chris Alheit’s winery on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge and is an intriguing cuvée of Chardonnay, 28% Roussanne, 18% Chenin Blanc, 17% Verdelho and 1% (very perfumed) Muscat. Featuring some botrytisaffected grapes caused by the rains in 2023, this has pear, orange zest and fresh grape flavours and some lees-derived texture. 2024-29” 93 points – Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report 2024

Hemelrand Vine Garden is a unique vineyard that produces a unique wine. The idea is to bottle the wine just as the vineyard produces it, effectively creating a white field blend that changes every year depending on the vintage conditions. This way we have one place expressed by a few different grapes, changing as the season dictates. Hemelrand continues to fulfil its promise of excellence, showing increased depth and nuance year- on-year as the vines mature.

Hemelrand it is situated on the cold and windy Hemel & Aarde Ridge at 360 meters above sea level on gravelly clay and Sandstone. The vineyard was planted in 2010 to Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, Chenin blanc, and Muscat Blanc a petit grain. However, as mentioned, the proportions of the different grapes produced significantly varies each vintage. Viticulturally speaking, this is a marginal site, the upside of which is slow ripening with high natural acidity.

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