restoring a superb site in the western cape
Oldenburg, as we know it today, was established in 2003 by Western Cape-native Adrian Vanderspuy, a former financial investor with a long-term ambition to produce premium wines, who also spent much of his youth on the neighbouring farm. Upon his return, Adrian set about replanting the neglected vineyards, some of which had existed since the early 1960s, culminating in his first vintage in 2007. Today, the estate is led by head winemaker, Nic Van Aarde, who oversaw the completion of Oldenburg’s newly built cellar at the start of 2019. Having gained a BSc in Oenology and Viticulture (as well as having a mother who once worked for award-winning winery Nederburg), Nic quickly earned a reputation as one of South Africa’s leading winemakers, working at a variety of top wineries in the Stellenbosch region, including Warwick Winery.
the banghoek valley
8km from Stellenbosch, the Oldenburg Winery is located high up in the Banghoek Valley. Meaning ‘Scary Corner’, Banghoek’s moniker pays tribute to the bravery of early pioneers
who conquered the craggy mountainsides to discover what lay beyond: a valley home to elephants, buffalo, lions, and leopards. Thanks to their daring spirit, these fore-bearers gave seed to a region now rich in viniculture, producing some of the country’s top wines.
rondekop
The Banghoek Valley offers a perfect storm of undulating hills, cool maritime influences, and diverse soil composition, which, together, provide the mark of the region’s unique terroir. Oldenburg’s vines are grown at 300-450m, with elevation being a key component for promoting cooler temperatures and, therefore, longer, steadier ripening times. Surrounded by a magnificent mountain amphitheatre, the vineyards here also benefit from more hours of sunlight than those which lie in the shadow of the mountains. Both Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc flourish particularly well in these mountainous vineyards, while the region’s rich red soil and decomposed granite add a complex minerality to the wines. Oldenburg’s vineyards are arranged like puzzle pieces around Rondekop – a magical hill at the heart of the estate, which provides a unique, 360-degree perspective of the terroir.
the vineyard series
The Oldenburg Vineyards series is a collection of exceptional single cultivar wines, showcasing the diversity of Oldenburg’s vineyards, soils and microclimate, intending to highlight the finest characteristics of each grape variety. Since joining the Oldenburg team in 2018, winemaker Nic Van Arde has been a strong advocate of minimal intervention; his philosophy is less is more, believing that it is the winemaker’s duty to let the terroir do the talking. Yields are deliberately kept low in order to maximise fruit concentration, while significant crop-thinning ensures only perfect grapes are picked.
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