With the perfect sunset the evening before Human Rights Day, we hosted a Wine and Olive Oil Tasting with Grape-Skin Wine Club. Not only did Pieter Kruger, wine and olive producer, teach us how these 2 very different fruits are harvested, but matured and blended to make the perfect consumable products. From Corintina to Merlot, the club enjoyed the tasting, snacks coffee and tea. For any function inquiries contact Susan Smit on 021-855 1008.
Yonder Hill Wines Stellenbosch
Hosting the Grape-Skin Wine Club
Yonder Hill Merlot 2010 now released
The Yonder Hill Merlot 2010 is now available!!!!
The March OOH! Box
The Inanda 2011 featuring in The Ooh Box for the month of March 2013.
For more information visit The OOH BOX on facebook
Pendock Winelands Guide : Five Heart Heroes
by Neil Pendock
A Halloween present to hard-pressed SA wine producers. 147 five-heart wines, the distillation of three weeks tasting around the Winelands with my Portuguese wineheartAníbal Coutinho.
All wines were made from grapes grown in the appellation (as far as we know). Nobody paid us and we tasted all 2000+ of them blind.
These were our favourites.
Allée Bleue Shiraz 2010 from Franschhoek.
Allesverloren Tinta Barocca 2009 from the Swartland.
Almenkerk Chardonnay 2011 from Elgin.
Altydgedacht The Ollo White Blend 2011 from Durbanville.
Alvi’s Drift Chardonnay 2011 from Breedekloof.
Annexkloof Red Blend 2007 from the Swartland.
Annexkloof SMG Red Blend 2010 from the Swartland.
Arendsig Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 from Robertson.
Ashbourne Sandstone White Blend 2007 from Hemel & Aarde.
Avondrood Shiraz 2009 from Breedekloof.
Axe Hill Machado Red Blend 2011 from the Klein Karoo.
Bellpost Shiraz 2008 from Namaqualand.
Bergsig The Family Friend Red Blend 2011 from Breedekloof.
Boland Five Climates Chenin Blanc 2012 from Paarl.
Boplaas Cape Tawny Port 1995 from the Klein Karoo.
Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2009 from Wellington.
Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2011 from Wellington.
Brennaissance King of Clubs Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Cederberg Five Generations Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from the Cederberg.
Chamonix Chardonnay 2011 from Franschhoek.
Chamonix Pinot Noir 2010 from Franschhoek.
Constantia Uitsig Sémillon 2011 from Constantia.
Constantia Uitsig White 2011 from Constantia.
D’Aria Red Blend 2010 from Durbanville.
Darling Cellars Lime Kilns White Blend 2010 from Darling.
De Grendel Merlot 2009 from Durbanville.
De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2008 from the Klein Karoo.
De Toren Fusion V Red Blend 2010 from Stellenbosch.
De Toren Z Red Blend 2010 from Stellenbosch.
De Trafford Chenin Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
De Trafford Shiraz 2010 from Stellenbosch.
De Wetshof Finesse Chardonnay 2010 from Robertson.
Deetlefs Hanepoot 2009 from Breedekloof.
Diemersfontein Carpe Diem Malbec 2010 from Wellington.
Diemersfontein Viognier 2011 from Wellington.
Domaine des Dieux Chardonnay 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
Domaine des Dieux Red Blend 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
Druk My Niet Invictus Red Blend 2009 from Paarl.
Eagle’s Cliff Arendskloof Pinot Grigio 2012 from Breedekloof.
Eagle’s Nest Little Eagle Red Blend 2010 from Constantia.
Eagle’s Nest Verreaux Red Blend 2009 from Constantia.
Esona Shiraz 2010 from Robertson.
Fairview Beacon Shiraz 2009 from Paarl.
Fairview Eenzaamheid Shiraz 2010 from Paarl.
Fairview Nurok White Blend 2011 from Paarl.
Fairview Primo Pinotage 2010 from Paarl.
Gabrielskloof Five Arches Red Blend 2008 from Bot River.
Gabrielskloof The Blend Red Blend 2010 from Bot River.
Gabrielskloof Viognier 2010 from Bot River.
Glen Carlou Grand Classique Red Blend 2009 from Paarl.
Glen Carlou Gravel Quarry Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Paarl.
Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay 2010 from Paarl.
Goedvertrouw Pinot Noir 2009 from Bot River.
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2007 from Robertson.
Graham Beck MCC Rosé 2009 from Robertson.
Graham Beck The Ridge Syrah 2009 from Robertson.
Grand vin de Glenelly Chardonnay 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Grande Provence Red Blend 2007 from Franschhoek.
Groote Post Pinot Noir 2009 from Darling.
Guardian Peak Lapa Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Guardian Peak SMG Red Blend 2010 from Stellenbosch.
Haut Espoir Shiraz 2006 from Franschhoek.
Jacques Bruére Cuveé Rosé 2006 from Robertson.
Jordan Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2010 from Stellenbosch.
Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Jordan The Outlier Sauvignon Blanc 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Kanonkop Pinotage 2010 from Stellenbosch.
Karusa Terre Noire Shiraz 2011 from the Klein Karoo.
Kasteelberg Chenin Blanc 2010 from the Swartland.
Klein Constantia Perdeblokke Sauvignon Blanc 2010 from Constantia.
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2007 from Constantia.
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Stellenbosch.
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
La Vierge Pinot Noir 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
La Vigne Shiraz 2007 from Franschhoek.
Landau du Val Sémillon 2008 from Franschhoek.
Lanzerac le General Red Blend 2008 from Stellenbosch.
Lemberg Surin Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Tulbagh.
Lothian Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 from Elgin.
Lutzville Diamond Collection Chenin (wood) 2011 from Namaqualand.
Lutzville Diamond Collection Shiraz 2010 from Namaqualand.
Major’s Hill Shiraz 2008 from Robertson.
Meerendal Chenin Blanc Natural Sweet 2009 from Durbanville.
Mellasat Chardonnay 2010 from Paarl.
Mellasat Tuinwyn Chenin Blanc Straw Wine 2010 from Paarl.
Merwida Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from Breedekloof.
Mimosa Shiraz 2011 from Robertson.
Mont du Toit Mont du Toit Red Blend 2007 from Wellington.
Morgenhof Red Blend 2005 from Stellenbsoch.
Morgenster White Blend 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Namaqua Wines Spencer Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Namaqualand.
Nicolas Charles Krone Marque I from Tulbagh.
Oak Valley Chardonnay 2011 from Elgin.
Oak Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Elgin.
Oldenburg Cabernet Franc 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Oldenburg Vineyards Chardonnay 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Oldenburg Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Ormonde Ondine Cabernet Franc 2008 from Darling.
Palesa Chenin Blanc 2012 from Breedekloof.
Paul Cluver Riesling NLH 2011 from Elgin.
Prospect Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Robertson.
Pulpit Rock Shiraz 2009 from the Swartland.
Rhebokskloof Red Blend 2010 from Paarl.
Rickety Bridge Chardonnay 2011 from Franschhoek.
Rickety Bridge Sémillon 2008 from Franschhoek.
Riebeek Cellars Rosé 2012 from the Swartland.
Rietvallei Classic Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 from Robertson.
Rietvallei Classic Estate Pinot Noir 2010 from Robertson.
Rietvallei Special Select Esteanna Red Blend 2009 from Robertson.
Rijk’s Touch of Oak Chenin Blanc 2010 from Tulbagh.
Rust en Vrede 1694 Classification Red Blend 2007 from Stellenbosch.
Rust en Vrede Estate Red Blend 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Rust en Vrede Shiraz 2010 from Stellenbosch.
Rust en Vrede Single Vineyard Shiraz 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Rustenberg Five Soldiers Chardonnay 2010 from Stellenbosch.
Rustenberg Peter Barlow Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 from Stellenbosch.
Saxenburg Private Collection Merlot 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Shannon Vineyards Mount Bullet Merlot 2010 from Elgin.
Shannon Vineyards Rockview Ridge Pinot Noir 2011 from Elgin.
Sir Lambert Sauvignon Blanc 2012 from Namaqualand.
Spioenkop “1900” Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Elgin.
Springfield Methode Ancienne Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 from Robertson.
Springfield Methode Ancienne Chardonnay 2009 from Robertson.
Stark-Condé Oude Nektar Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Stellenbosch.
Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Sumaridge Maritimus White Blend 2010 from Hemel & Aarde.
Swartland Winery Bush Vines Shiraz 2010 from the Swartland.
The Berrio Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Elim.
Thelema Rabelais Red Blend 2008 from Stellenbosch.
Thelema Reserve Merlot 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Thelema Sutherland Red Blend 2009 from Elgin.
Thelema The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Veenwouden Classic Red Blend 2009 from Paarl.
Veenwouden Merlot 2011 from Paarl.
Villiera Monro Brut 2007 from Stellenbosch.
Vrede en Lust Artisan Chenin Blanc 2011 from Elgin.
Vrede en Lust Barrique White Blend 2011 from Elgin.
Waboomsrivier Arborea Red Blend 2010 from Breedekloof.
Warwick Trilogy Red Blend 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Waterkloof Circle of Life White Blend 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Waterkloof Circumstance Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Stellenbosch.
Waterkloof Circumstance Chenin Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Webersburg Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Stellenbosch.
Wildekrans Reserve Pinotage 2010 from Bot River.
Wildekrans Shiraz 2009 from Bot River.
Windfall Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 from Robertson.
147. Yonder Hill Merlot 2009 from Stellenbosch.
“Full tasting notes as well as our terroir top ten of everything and more will be available in Neil Pendock’s Winelands Guide 2013 next month.”
http://www.wine.co.za/News/news.aspx?NEWSID=21761&Source=News
Helderberg Race amazes again with hospitality
29 October 2012 by Helderberg Wine Route
More than a hundred adventure seeking visitors to the beautiful Helderberg Wine Region was once again stunned by the scenery, the great wines and the fantastic hospitality and friendliness of the participating wineries in this year’s Helderberg Wine Route Amazing Race which took place on 20 wine farms on Saturday, 20 and Sunday, 21 October.
Highlights included barrel rolling at Annandale Wines’ rustic cellar building and farmyard, making up of bunches of Proteas to a professional standard at Uva Mira, an “obstacle course” race around the dam at Dornier Wines and counting barrels in the vaulted maturation cellar at Ken Forrester Vineyards.
Yonder Hill Winery, in the capable hands of wine route chairman Bennie Avenant was a huge hit with their “minute to win it” challenges which had to be completed against the clock. This proved too much for many of the participants, especially at the end of a long day of tastings and exhausting tasks.
At the end of the day, participants gathered at the NH Lord Charles Hotel to recuperate and cheer on the winners of each division to determine the overall winners. Congratulations to “Chefs don’t Wine” whose aiming and spitting skills could not be beaten on Saturday, and “Team MiX Touareg” who was crowned as overall champions on Sunday.
Organiser, Bjorn van Oort, and many of the wineries rated this the best Amazing Race ever with a terrific group of participants and wineries going out of their way to showcase the best of the Helderberg Wine Route!
Participating wineries were: Alto, Annandale, Avontuur, Croydon, Dornier, Eikendal, Heron Ridge, Hidden Valley, JP Bredell, Ken Forrester, Longridge, Lyngrove, Somerbosch, Stellenzicht, Uva Mira, Vergenoegd, Waterkloof, Welmoed, Wedderwill Wines and Yonder Hill.
for more info go to www.winesa.co.za
Veritas - Experience excellence
The Veritas Awards is the longest running and most prestigious wine competition in South Africa and is synonymous with excellence in wine. The awards gives recognition to wines of exceptional quality and the distinctive Veritas symbol excellence serves as an authoratitave quality guidline for wine connoisseurs.
Yonder Hill won 2 golds from the 3 entries for the Y-Sauvignon Blanc 2012 and Inanda 2009.
The “Taste of Helderberg”
On Thursday 7 June 2012 the weather was by no means a deterrent for wine and food lovers to join in the fun at the NH Lord Charles in Somerset West for a night of exquisite food and some of the best wines on offer by Helderberg and Stellenbosch Wine Estates.
ShowMe Helderberg was there to capture some of these moments
Olyfberg Olive Products
All Olyfberg products now availible at Yonder Hill for tasting and sales. For more information visit www.olyfberg.co.za
Tast OF the Helderberg
TASTE OF THE HELDERBERG” ADDS GOURMET EATS TO THE MIX
Wine lovers from the Helderberg region can treat themselves to some of South Africa’s top wines and specially prepared dishes from gourmet winery restaurants during the “Taste of the Helderberg” wine show at the NH Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West on Thursday, 7 June from 17h00 to 21h00.
Bennie Avenant, chairman of the Helderberg Wine Route, said that this show is growing annually and is getting more popular with regulars who have attended over the last few years. “We wish to keep the show intimate to enable visitors to chat to winemakers without feeling that they are part of a massive crowd. We therefore limit the number of tickets to 500.”
Avenant continued by saying that the route hopes to showcase at least 25 wineries and ten restaurants. “Chefs have been asked to prepare small portions of their signature dishes to sell to patrons during the show, but the wine tasting is included in the ticket price.
Tickets cost a mere R50 for which festival goers receive an elegant wine glass branded with the Helderberg Wine Route logo, and have the opportunity to taste more than 100 of the region’s best wines. Wines will also be for sale at the show.
During and after the wine-tasting, guests can relax in comfortable couches in chill areas or make use of the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. However, if last years success is repeated, prior bookings at the restaurant will need to be made well in advance! The telephone number to make a booking is (021) 855 1040.
For more info or to pre-book wine show tickets, please contact organiser Björn van Oort at bjorn@cvomarketing.co.za or at (021) 981 0216. Visitors can also buy tickets on the evening at the door, depending on availability.
For more info go to http://www.wineroute.co.za/whatson.asp
New baby born - Ben Avenant
Congrats to winemaker, Bennie Avenant and wife, Charmaine on their beautiful baby boy, BEN AVENANT. With both mom and son healthy, we are amazed at how beautiful he is.
All of us at Yonder Hill want to welcome Ben to the family and congratulations to both parents. Good luck for the future, we know you will make wonderful parents.
Christmas Gift 2011
The year 2011 is nearing its end. In a few weeks we will be celebrating Christmas again. Yonder Hill is offering you a very good idea. Instead of exposing yourselves to the Christmas–rush we offer you a gift which will be appreciated by all. It is not a gift that will be stashed in a cupboard but something useful. We can assure you that it is good value for money as well as a high quality gift. The packaging is attractive and will be a sign of your own good taste.
Contact Yonder Hill for the various options on 021-8551008 or email to wines@yonderhill.co.za
Appointment of new Western Cape Representative
October 2011 – Yonder Hill is delighted to announce the appointment of new representative, Stephen Botha to the company to serve and further develop our customer base in the Western Cape.
Working the last 12 years in the wine industry has given Stephen a broad knowledge of wine and distribution. Stephen, we welcome you to the Yonder Hill team. We are glad to find someone who is just as passionate about Yonder Hill, than everyone on the farm.
WELCOME HOME.
The Naude Family and
Yonder Hill Team
For contact information visit our contact page.
Wine Concepts Kloof Tasting
Visit Wine Concepts Kloof Steet to taste our Inanda 2008 and Merlot 2008. These wines will be on sale at a discounted price. For more information go to
http://wineconcepts.co.za/
Stellenbosch Fynproewers Gilde at Yonder HIll
On the 15th of August 2011 Yonder Hill had the priveledge to host the “Stellenbosch Fynproewers Gilde”. This was a great opportunity for Olyfberg Olive Farm to introduce their olive products to the members of the Gilde. This night will go down in the record books as the first official Olyberg Olive oil tasting at Yonder Hill. It was a night full of excitement and indulgence to be enjoyed by everybody present!
Olyfberg, like Yonder Hill is owned by the Naude family. It seem as if producing quality products run deep in their veins. These two quality driven producers obviously works hand in hand together to form a powerful team when it come to stimulating the palette. Olyfberg farm is in Elandia, between Worcester and Robertson, and has more than 35 000 olive trees. It is becoming one of the top producers of olive products in the country.
Wilna, manager of marketing and sales at Olyfberg, presented the tasting for over 50 guests. Each of these guests had 5 glasses of oil to taste. The glasses were placed on a piece of paper, and each variety was indicated. The 5 main olive oil varieties produced at Olyberg were tasted. They were Mission, Frontoia, Manzanilla, Coratina and Leccino. Wilna also indicated how the varieties were blended to give the final product. She explained the technical points of cold pressing and terms like: “virgin olive oil”. The feed-back was positive all over and Olyfberg certainly managed to introduce a new understanding of this fairly new industry.
After the tasting was conducted, the guests were treated to whole range of different soups, with bread to die for. And of course, they were also treated to the lovely wines from Yonder Hill to go with this lovely meal. Thank you for choosing Yonder Hill Wines and Olyfberg olive products.
Visit www.olyfberg.co.za for more information on products
Yonder Hill Scores Pole Position in Top12wines.com
Yonder Hill Merlot 2008 was given the chequered flag by an independent wine tasting panel from top12wines.com.
Top12.wines.com was founded by Frank Dasse who puts together an amateur wine enthusiast panel who partake in tastings of wines in different categories. Merlot was the most recent tasting and Dasse feels that the results of these tastings are a better perception of what the public enjoy and purchase. “I’m happy that people go on the website to check the current results and as we have more and more tastings of the same category, then one can see the temporary overall ranking. On top of that, it is about wines we are passionate about. I find it fun to follow, a little bit like Formula One”, comments Dasse.
For more information visit www.yonderhill.co.za and www.top12wines.com
Caroline`S Red Wine Review
Visit the link to get all information on tonights Merlot tasting at Carolines Red Wine Review. We will be showing our Yonder Hill Merlot 2008. Silver award at Old Mutual Trophy Show.
http://www.carolineswine.com/carolines-red-wine-review-tuesday-26th-july-2011
67 Minutes
Today Yonder Hill visited the ACVV Bright Light Shelter Somerset West which houses 28 boys and feeds over 30 children and 8 adults daily. This is a government owned shelter and is in desperate need of food, children’s clothes, sanitary products, educational toys and, more importantly, people who want to assist in making a difference to the shelter. Yonder Hill spent their 67minutes wisely today by feeding the inhabitants of ACVV with boerewors rolls and playing games with the children. Today`s visit made us realise that there is a big need for these future young leaders of South Africa and we want to make a notable difference in these children’s lives, even if it is by making a small monthly donation in any form. Let’s make every day a Madiba Day! Stand up and do your part! As Nelson Madela said: “We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right”.
We are donating 67 bottles of Yonder Hill wines valued at R2500.00 to be raffled. All money will be donated to the Bright Light Shelter. To buy a ticket in the raffle, contact Susan / Carmen on 021 8551008. Tickets will be on sale from 19/07 - 19/08. Ticket price R5.00 each.
For any queries on how to donate contact Bettie / Andre at ACVV Bright Light Shelter Somerset West:
STREET ADDRESS: 15 Edgar Street, Somerset West
TELEPHONE: 021 851 2414
FAX: 021 851 2414
EMAIL: acvvbright@telkomsa.net
Stellenbosch Wine Festival 28 - 31 July 2011
We will be at this years Stellenbosch Wine Festival 28 - 31 July 2011. The Y-Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Y-Merlot 2011, Y-Shiraz 2011, Yonder Hill Merlot 2008 and Yonder Hill Inanda 2008 will be availible for tasting and buying.
Visit http://www.wineroute.co.za/festival.asp for more information.
New website!
We have a new website, bigger, cleaner and very user-friendly, hope you like it too.
2 Silvers at this years Old Mutual Trophy Awards
With only Hillcrest Quarry topping our Merlot 2008, we are proud to announce our newly released Merlot 2008 is rated as second best Merlot at the Old Mutual Trophy awards 2011. This Merlot is available at the Cellar for R120.00/btl.
The Vineyards are sixteen years old and planted on the northern slopes of the farm. The vines are trained onto a five-wire trellis system to maximise exposure to the sunlight and sea breeze. The use of minimal handling and insecticides shows our approach towards environ-friendly farming methods.
SOILS Deep fertile Oak leaf and Tukulu soil. The 20 to 30 cm of lime becomes a good mixture of sand to sand-lime-clay soil medium. It is then followed by 50 to 60 cm of wet zone, as a result of limited amounts of clay, with apparent granite origin.
The berries from the tiny 1.2ha vineyard, ripened in the early months of the year. Fermentation took place on the skins for twelve days, with five days post maceration after gentle pressing, malolactic was encouraged. This Merlot was then matured in 65%-new French Oak barrels for 20 months. Cellar for 7 years or drink now.
With a deep dark colour. Rich velvety texture with blackberries, cassis, eucalyptus and dark chocolates on the nose. This wine is build on a heavy but well rounded tannin structure, and is excellently well balanced.
ANALYSIS
Alcohol 14.56 %
Total acidity 5.7 g/l
pH 3.65
Residual sugar 3.70 g/l
BOTTLED 20/11/2009
Yonder Hill Nicola 2008
Our new label for all 2008 vintages to reach the shelves by 1 June 2011.
The Yonder Hill Nicola (new brand) is to celebrate the Naude Family`s daughter, Nicola on her 25th birthday in 2008. The best 7 barrels was selected and blended to ensure high quality. With only 2000 bottles, one would wonder who will be so lucky to own a bottle.