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 Name

Vine Garden aptly describes both the attention to detail in small scale viticulture on Hemelrand and 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.

Vintage Notes

High-energy, exotic nose of musky apricot and talcum, fresh apple and lime. On the palate the attack is like stoney mineral water, swiftly followed by mouth filling texture and tense tart acidity. A lovely Hemelrand wine, close to a perfect representation of the site.

Technical Details

Alc: 13.37% – RS: 2.7g/l – TA: 6.74g/l – pH: 3.28

Wine of Origin: Hemel & Aarde Ridge (Estate Wine)

Grower: Hans Evenhuis

Varieties: 32% Roussanne; 28% Chardonnay; 25% Chenin Blanc; 11% Verdelho; 4% Muscat

Bottling date: May 2025

Production: 8050 bottles and 90 magnums

Data Sheet:

https://alheitvineyards.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Hemelrand-Vine-Garden-2024-Factsheet.pdf