Plus, our history of winemaking is way younger than our Old World counterparts (hence South Africa forming part of the ‘New World’ grouping of winemaking countries). The reason our vines are relatively youthful is due to a number of factors, including past viruses and planting more economical crops. In Old World wine producing countries such as France and Italy, that number drastically increases to up to 120 years. So what counts as old vines? In South Africa, ‘old’ vines are generally accepted as being 35 years or more. Much like a fully grown adult versus a young teen, the older vines are more self-sufficient, cutting down on vineyard maintenance and costs. A further added benefit includes a deep root system, meaning these vines are hardier in extreme weather conditions, such as the current draught we are experiencing. less wine) year on year, the fruit of the vine produces wine of great structure, concentrated flavours and aromas worthy of conservation. And even though the yield may be going down (i.e.
When it comes to old vineyards, a winemaking team starts tending to not only the vines, but the heritage too. But there’s something truly magical about an old vine vineyard. And why is this worth writing about? Well, every vineyard is special. If you’ve ever tried some of our Single Vineyard wines, you might have come across the term ‘old vines’.