Welgegund Heritage Wines launches two new wines, our Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2017 and our Providence 2015, a Rhône-style blend.
Nestled beneath the magnificent Hawequa mountains at the end of an oak-lined cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Wellington, lies Welgegund Heritage Wines. Welgegund, a Dutch word meaning well-bestowed, perfectly describes this beautiful estate. A place of natural beauty, with heritage buildings dating back to the early 1800’s and a unique fingerprint of terroir and climate, this family-owned boutique wine farm has seen major restoration over the past 4 years under its new owners.
Established in 1777, Welgegund was once the property of Cecil John Rhodes. After acquiring the estate in 2014, the Brimacombe Family have lavished time and attention on Welgegund. The Manor House, built in the early 1820s and featured in the book “The Old Buildings of the Cape”, is on the register of Provincial heritage sites. It has been authentically restored and refurbished and is now, once again, a beautiful family home. Older heritage buildings on the farm are also being sensitively restored to provide a tasting room and guest suites.
Welgegund is blessed with an ideal combination of terroir and cultivars. The ancient decomposed granite soils, combined with cooling breezes that funnel down the valley from the Bainskloof Pass, moderating the extremes of the climate, provide a perfect terroir for low yielding vines that produce deeply coloured and intensely flavoured fruit.
The new dawn at Welgegund encompasses the comprehensive rehabilitation and rejuvenation of the 35-hectare estate. Original areas of fynbos are being increased and established oak and wild olive trees, protected and nurtured. The dry land vineyards, which include very old Chenin Blanc (1974), Cinsaut (1974) and Carignan (1979) bush vines, have been revitalised after receiving specialised attention.
A new winemaker. Friedrich Kühne, previously at Doolhof, is passionate about producing high quality wines and brings a wealth of experience to the team. Emy Matthews was appointed Sales and Marketing Manager in March 2018. With fifteen years’ experience in the South African hospitality and wine industries, she will be responsible for expanding the Welgegund brand.
Two award-winning wines produced from old dry land bush vines have just been launched. The barrel-fermented, beautifully round Welgegund Heritage Wines’ Chenin Blanc 2017 is from 44-year old vines planted in 1974 and the Welgegund Heritage Wines’ Providence 2015, is a fruit-driven, Rhône-style blend of 60% Shiraz, 30% Cinsaut (1974 vineyard) and 10% Carignan, which shows great body, concentration and structure. Both these wines were honoured at the 2018 National Wine Challenge & Top 100 SA Wines awards, the Chenin receiving Double Platinum and Top 100 SA Wines 2018 status and the Providence awarded Double Gold.
The team has also turned their attention to our 1 hectare olive grove and Welgegund’s first olive oil has been pressed. A lively and fruity extra virgin olive oil cold pressed from a blend of selected olive cultivars, all the fruit was grown on this historic Cape farm.
Welgegund’s old blocks of Chenin blanc, Cinsaut and Carignan form part of the new and exciting Old Vine Project, an industry initiative dedicated to recognising the special character of the Cape’s wine heritage and to preserving these beautiful old vines. Vineyards more than 35 years old are being honoured with Certified Heritage Vineyards plaques and wines made from these heritage vineyards will proudly bear the Old Vine Project Heritage Certification Seal. This is a world first!