Alheit Vineyards

Hemelrand Vine Garden

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. The wine is always remarkable and continues to gain in stature as the vines mature.

The Story Behind Hemelrand Vine Garden

Vineyards

Hemelrand 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.

learn more about the vineyards
Hemelrand Vine Garden

Technical Details

Varieties:
31% Chardonnay, 29% Roussanne, 20% Chenin, 18% Verdelho, 2% Muscat
Wine of origin Hemel & Aarde Ridge (Estate Wine)
Production 3823 bottles and 60 magnums
Bottling May 23 2023
Alcohol 14.35%
RS 2.7 g/litre
TA 5.85 g/litre
PH 3.33

Vine Garden aptly describes both the attention to detail in small scale viticulture on Hemelrand as well as the handful of grape varieties represented in the vineyard.

Winemaking and Maturation

The grapes were picked early in the morning, sorting in the vineyard, and whole bunch pressed. The juice was very lightly settled (we like very cloudy raw juice) with no additions to the raw juice, wild fermentation took place in old barrels of various sizes. Fermentation lasted for about two months. The wine was kept on lees for around 12 months, then rested in tank on fine lees without fining for a further six months prior to bottling. Very simple, careful winemaking.

Tasting Notes

As always, the nose is intense and exotic, sporting salted lemon and quince, oatmeal and a hint of white flowers. The palate has tremendous drive, with great acidity balancing richness. Very long finish. This is a great Vine Garden vintage.

download the full 2022 vintage fact sheet