Our formidable new flavour front – Calcrete
Rietvallei Estate is excited to be part of a dynamic new grouping of wine producers that should be a force in wine style development of the world’s most iconic white wine cultivar, Chardonnay, by expressing the essence of the Robertson region’s limestone rich soils under the banner Calcrete.
The five wines recently launched under this label – derived from the terms calcium and crete – are carefully selected, unwooded creations from Rietvallei, in tandem with those from De Wetshof Estate, Excelsior, Van Loveren Family Vineyards and Weltevrede Estate.
Rietvallei Estate, of course, has been at the forefront of the Robertson wine region’s great strides in the Cape’s fine wine production and indisputably becoming prime Chardonnay Country. It’s been proven over the recent decades that this noble Burgundian white cultivar thrives here in the ideal soils with their high concentration of chalk, clay and limestone.
This historic estate naturally belongs in this grouping of prominent Robertson wine houses as it increasingly garners top awards at significant evaluations, while being at the thrust of Chardonnay evolvement following the first of these vineyards established here 40 years ago.
The vision of Calcrete, as explained during wine launches in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with the role players of these wineries in attendance, is to excel in offering a wine that authentically represents the terroir, producers of the region, and the lifestyle of the valley.
“Calcrete is poised to be known as the quintessential sunshine wine and the ultimate food wine, encapsulating the essence of its terroir of birth,” said Weltevrede’s Philip Jonker, who released the maiden Weltevrede Calcrete 2021 at the end of that year.
In 2022, De Wetshof’s delivery joined this “down-to-earth’ fold and in 2023 Rietvallei, Excelsior and Van Loveren were in the mix.
That was after Philip had convinced Rietvallei’s Kobus Burger, Johann de Wet from De Wetshof, Chris Crafford from Van Loveren and Peter de Wet from Excelsior and other local family vineyards to each present an unwooded Chardonnay prepared in a mineral-driven style – that elusive but increasingly important pure minerality characteristic being at the essence of this concept.
The Calcrete signature appears on each producer’s label as a registered trademark. Only approved members of the Calcrete Wine Custodians will be permitted to use the name for individually approved and Wine of Origin certified unwooded Chardonnay from Wine of Origin Robertson.
To qualify, the wines presented are evaluated by a panel of the winemakers involved. Some of these wines will be labelled as “Chardonnay with Calcrete” while others will bear the name “Calcrete” alone – the idea being that Calcrete will become synonymous with unwooded Chardonnay from Robertson, distinguished by its exceptional minerality.
Said Kobus Burger, Rietvallei’s CEO and winemaker, “We let terroir do the talking and draw inspiration from Chablis in northern Burgundy. Before the launching of this project, I remember last being so excited about this cultivar when making my first Chardonnay some 21 years ago.”
Calcrete, according to the proponents, defines the wines from this unique Chardonnay region. Their various wines distinctly represent Chardonnay in its purist form and express terroir with great clarity and minerality, each with its own unique regional attributes.
The main thread of underlying minerality is usually associated with sensations like flintiness, steeliness or elegance evoked in a wine’s earthy and chalky mouthfeel. The wines’ crisp crystalline character, nuances of wet stone, saline palate and oyster shell minerality are highlighted by the linear unwooded profile.
The Calcrete Chardonnay is exclusive to the limestone-rich wine appellation of Robertson. Here the distinctive terroir ranges from calcareous outcrops to arid, broken shale, both features resulting from ancient petrified maritime deposits.
In Rietvallei’s case, Calcrete Chardonnay 2023 derives from Chardonnay vines planted in 2013 on a west-facing slope in calcareous soils:
https://rietvallei.co.za/product/calcrete-chardonnay-2023/
See also – Calcrete media buzz
After its recent launch, the Calcrete movement has resulted in a wave of media exposure, see the following links:
Rooi Rose: https://www.rooirose.co.za/wynmakers-se-nuwe-calcrete-handelsmerk-laat-terroir-die-praatwerk-doen/
The Wine Girl Cape Town: https://thewinegirlcapetown.co.za/calcrete-wine-defining-a-region-through-unwooded-chardonnay/
Jozi Style: https://www.jozistyle.joburg/calcrete-wine
Planet Wine: https://planetwine.co.za/calcrete-wines-defining-a-region-through-unwooded-chardonnay/
Netwerk 24: https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/leefstyl/kos-en-wyn/kelders-in-robertson-span-saam-20231107
Wine.co.za https://photos.wine.co.za/Photos.aspx?ALBUMID=3068&CLIENTID=
Die Burger Versnit: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=842383091229862&set=a.471887801612728
Simply Miss Jo: https://simplymissjo.wordpress.com/2023/11/16/calcrete-wine-a-region-defined-by-its-wine/?fbclid=PAAabVg-20J9llqruqY_HPWtqWPQquuK-BibQ3l035eHTCD5cWODPU9t8KTOE
Rietvallei-wyne gedy op ʼn golf van goud
Met die jaar wat einde se kant toe staan, kan Rietvallei Landgoed by Robertson terugkyk op ʼn golf van kompetisiesukses wat hom deurentyd in die kollig gehou het – duidelik die vrug op letterlik dekades se insette en ontwikkeling deur ses geslagte om hierdie familieplaas se natuurlike bates behoorlik te benut.
“Toenemende erkenning, veral in die laaste jaar, het my as wynmaker ook die selfvertroue gegee om onbevange uiting te gee aan my natuurlike voorkeure en om wyn te maak soos ek daarvan hou. En die belonings stroom in.”
Só vertel die wynmaker-eienaar van hierdie 158-jarige wynplaas, Kobus Burger, na aanleiding van hul rits suksesse in prominente kompetisies soos die Veritas-toekennings, SA Terroir-kompetisie en die Michelangelo Internasionale Wyn– en Spiritualieë-kompetisie.
“Ja, elkeen van die geslagte se eienaarskap het hul rol gespeel om Rietvallei tot hier te bring. En ons het almal foute gemaak, maar gelukkig ook goeie dinge gedoen. Ek wil egter my pa uitsonder, want dit is sedert hy die rigting verander het en omvattende vernuwing ingestel het, wat die groot dinge gebeur het.”
Wyle Johnny Burger het in 1981 ʼn nuwe, moderne kelder gebou in die plek van wat basies ʼn muskadel- en bulk-kelder was, met vlekvrye staaltenks, verkoeling en al. Dit sluit die groot stappe in om koue fermentasiefasiliteite te skep en later van stortmaatwyn-produksie vir ʼn groothandelaar weg te breek en ʼn eie handelsmerk te bou.
Hul eerste handelsmerkwyn was die 1975 Muskadel en die eerste natuurlike droë witwyn, ʼn Chardonnay in 1987 – wat in die laat 90’s gegroei het tot ʼn portefeulje van vier, teenoor vandag se 24 wat opsies vir wye smaakvoorkeure bied.
Kobus het ná ʼn offisierskursus in die Vloot en ʼn graad in meganiese ingenieurswese sy gewig met bemarking agter pa Johnny ingegooi – destyds ʼn kleurvolle en pretensielose, maar ook sterk persoonlikheid in die Vallei van Wyn en Rose.
Kobus het in 2002 oestydwerk by die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch en by die Henri Bourgeois-wynkelder in Sancerre gedoen. Sy eerste oes op Rietvallei was in 2003 saam met Johnny – laasgenoemde wat daarna op die wingerdbou en boerdery kon fokus met Kobus aan die roer van keldersake.
Vandag sorg Kobus vir 90 hektaar onder wingerd, 55% wit en 45% rooi druiwe, hoofsaaklik Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz en ʼn ou hoeksteen van Rietvallei se tradisie, die 113 jaar-oue bosstok Rooi Muskadel, wat oor die jare ʼn vlagskip van die landgoed was.
“ʼn Belangrike faktor in die jongste jare se sukses in die markplek en met kompetisies is dat die nuwe wingerd-aanplantings nou volwassenheid bereik het en meer vrug-intensiteit en karakter lewer, wat natuurlik deurdra in die kelder.”
Vandag pryk die trofeë vir SA Terroir Top Landgoed en Topprodusent by die Novare SA Terroir Wyntoekennings 2021 in die keurig gerestoureerde Rietvallei-herehuis en besoekersfasiliteite met ʼn pragtuin.
Rietvallei Wynlandgoed het uitgetroon by hierdie kompetisie deur beide hierdie spogpryse in te palm. Sodoende het die landgoed nie net sy unieke terrein-eienskappe soos kalkryke, goed gedreineerde grond vir wynproduksie bevestig nie, maar ook Robertson-distrik se groeiende statuur as oorsprong van voortreflike wyn.
Rietvallei is hier ook aangewys as nasionale wenner in die Sauvignon Blanc- en Chenin Blanc-kategorieë – die land se mees mededingende en mees aangeplante witwynkultivars. Sy nasionale wenners was Estéanna Sauvignon Blanc 2020 en Chenin Blanc 2020 – beide vatgegis en met oordeelkundige houtkontak berei.
Die Estéanna Sauvignon Blanc word gemaak van die landgoed se hoogste produksie-kultivar. Die naam is in Rietvallei se tipiese familietradisie ontleen aan Kobus en Elizabeth Burger se dogters, Esté en Annie … wie se tweelingbroers se name seker weldra op wenwyne sal pryk.
Die familie-vaandel wyne Estéanna Sauvignon Blanc 2020 en JMB Cabernet Franc 2016 was vroeër vanjaar ook onder die oes van ses goue medaljes by die Michelangelo-kompetisie waar byna 1 900 wyne dit vir die louere uitgespook het.
En dan die kersie op die koek – in die onlangse Veritas-toekennings, met sowat 1 300 inskrywings, het die Rietvallei JMB Chardonnay 2020 enkelwingerdwyn ʼn gesogte dubbelgoud medalje losgeslaan en die Rietvallei Estéanna Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot 2009 (in ʼn magnum 1.5 liter bottel), ʼn goud.
Die JMB-wyne is deel van Rietvallei se spitsreeks Heritage Collection-wyne, met die naam ontleen aan “Johnny”, oftewel Johannes Marthinus Burger – ook die inspirasie van hul gewilde, bekostigbare John B-wynreeks.
Die ander reekse is Rietvallei Classic Collection, Burger Family Vineyards en Stonedale, almal ook aanlyn beskikbaar of met besoek aan Rietvallei.
Hier langs die R60 met die skilderagtige Langeberge in die agtergrond, kan jy ervaar hoe ouwêreldse tradisies en resepte van een van die oudste plase in die Robertson-wynvallei in harmonie met Nuwe Wêreld-innovering en -metodes toegepas word. En hoe Kobus en Elizabeth die trotse Burger-familietradisie wat tot 1864 terugdateer, stylvol en gasvry voortsit.
Ontmoet ons wynboere: Rietvallei hou vas aan sy familie
Rietvallei‑wynlandgoed het in 2014 ’n belangrike mylpaal bereik deur een van slegs ’n handjievol Suid-Afrikaanse wynlandgoedere te word om 150 jaar se eienaarskap onder een familie te vier. Hierdie wynlandgoed is nou in Kobus Burger se hande, wat die sesde geslag Burgers is om wyndruiwe te produseer.
Die plaas is in 1864 deur Alewyn Burger vir sy seun, Jacobus Francois, gekoop. Hy was ʼn gerekende baanbrekerwynboer en was 70 jaar oud toe hy in 1908 ’n muskadel-wingerd op die plaas gevestig het, wat vandag die oudste van sy soort in Suid-Afrika is. Hierdie wingerd bestaan uit bosstokke en is ongeveer 0,37 hektaar groot.
Rietvallei was ook een van die eerste wynplase wat in die pragtige Robertson-wynvallei gevestig is en lê in die Klaasvoogds-wyk, ’n gebied met eiesoortige grondstrukture en ʼn klimaat wat ideaal is vir die verbouing van wyndruiwe.
Die landgoed is 215 hektaar groot, waarvan 95 hektaar onder wingerd beplant is. Ander gewasse soos bloubessies en lusern word ook op die landgoed verbou.
Tans bestaan die wingerde uit 55% wit en 45% rooi kultivars wat hoofsaaklik saamgestel is uit sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, chenin blanc, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, shiraz en dan natuurlik die tradisionele rooi muskadel.
Nadat Kobus ʼn offisierskursus in die vloot en ʼn graad in meganiese ingenieurswese verwerf het, het hy in 2002 sy gewig agter sy pa, Johnny, ingegooi en by Rietvallei-landgoed se bemarking betrokke geraak. Hulle het besluit om van Distell, wat die landgoed se bemarking en verspreiding langer as 25 jaar gedoen het, weg te breek. In 2002 het Vinimark die nasionale verspreider van Rietvallei-landgoed geword.
In 2002 het Kobus ook die kuns van wynmaak aan die Bergkelder in Stellenbosch begin bemeester en in September is hy Frankryk toe waar hy tydens hul oestyd in Sancerre by die Henri Bourgeois-familiewynkelder gewerk het.
Kobus het sy eerste oes op Rietvallei saam met sy pa in 2003 meegemaak, wat hom die fynere vaardighede, wat eie aan die plaas is, geleer het. In 2004 was Kobus gereed om die wynmakery oor te neem terwyl sy pa begin het om hom op die boerdery toe te spits.
Kobus en sy vrou, Elizabeth, het vier kinders, twee dogters en tweelingseuns. Elizabeth is aktief betrokke by die onderneming en bestuur die herehuis en ander geriewe. Sy is ook die sjef wanneer spesiale gaste of internasionale agente op die plaas onthaal word.
Rietvallei se wingerde floreer in die skoon Karoo-lug wat vanuit die noorde oor die Langeberg na die kus beweeg. Dit gebeur ook dikwels vroeg in die oggend dat die wingerdstokke in mis gehul is terwyl ʼn somerbriesie weer van die kus af kom om die druiwe verder af te koel, sodat hulle stadig kan ryp word om ʼn voldoende suikerinhoud te ontwikkel.
Die grond op die landgoed is goed gedreineer en ryk aan kalk, met ’n hoë pH, wat ideaal vir wynbou is. Die grondsoorte wissel van rooi kalkagtige klei-leem, tot diep kalkleem, tot rotsagtige en selfs ook tot sanderige alluviale grond teen die banke van die Breërivier.
Soos die moderne neiging is, word ook so veel as moontlik organiese praktyke op Rietvallei toegepas. “Wanneer dit beskikbaar is, komposteer ons hoendermis en/of beesmis saam met ons druiwedoppe wat ons dan gedurende die wintermaande in die wingerde inwerk. Ongelukkig is die mis nie altyd beskikbaar nie, of net te duur om ekonomies sin te maak,” sê Kobus. “Derhalwe gebruik ons ook gewone kunsmis om aanvullings te doen.
“Ons pas voorkomende spuitprogramme toe vir witroes en donsskimmel, wat potensieel twee groot probleme vir wingerdboere in die Wes-Kaap is. Hoe natter die jaar is, hoe hoër is dié siektes se druklading, maar as jou voorkomende stelsels in plek is, is jy veilig.”
Bykomend tot die kompos spuit Kobus ook aanvullende blaarvoeding.
ʼn Gedeelte van Rietvallei se wingerd word meganies gesnoei met ʼn snoeiaanhangsel vooraan ʼn trekker en die oprankstelsels is spesiaal daarvoor aangepas. Hierdie boorde word ook meganies geoes.
Die ou muskadel bosstok-blok moet weer sagkens hanteer word en met die hand gesnoei word. Daar word ook ʼn graaf en skoffel ingespan om rondom skoon te maak. “Die blok was destyds baie groter, maar moes toenemend plek maak vir nuwe aanplantings en soms gaan daar oesjare verby wat daar niks geoes word nie, maar ons hou dit vir ʼn nalatenskap,” sê hy.
Rietvallei bied wyn vir elke klas koper aan, van hul Rietvallei Heritage- en Classic-versamelings tot die gewilde John B-handelsmerk.
Vanjaar het Kobus ook die mark met ʼn sak in ʼn boks binnegedring met die John B-reeks “Dit werk uitstekend vir restaurante wat wyn by die glas verkoop.”
Rietvallei bied verskillende opsies vir funksies met ’n mediumgrootte binnehof wat uitloop op die ruim stoep en weelderige grasperk. Dit kyk uit op ʼn pragtige tuin en bied ʼn asemrowende uitsig op die Langeberg. Daar is ook ʼn gesellige lapa met sy eie kroeg en ’n kaggel. Rietvallei kan ook konferensies en vergaderings vir tot 50 mense aanbied.
Coenie de Villiers Under The Stars
Award-winning South African singer-songwriter Coenie de Villiers performed under the stars at the prestigious Rietvallei Wine Estate located in Robertson on the 7th of November 2020.
It was a truly unforgettable night filled with storytelling, piano playing, and singing which included a diverse selection of Coenie’s songs from various albums over the years.
The night was greatly enjoyed and was much needed for many people after lock-down to experience such a great event out under the stars, surrounded by vineyards and the beautiful Robertson mountains.
We would like to thank Coenie de Villiers, the Optog team, and King Price Insurance for making this all possible.
#rietvallei #optog
Mathys Roets se Trousprokie
Dit was ‘n groot voorreg om vir Mathys en sy pragtige vrou Jané se troue te onthaal op Rietvallei. Die aand was onvergeetlik!
Events Co-Ordinator: Christine Bruwer.
Rok: Modeca Dutch Bridal van Timeless Bridal Couture www.modeca.com .
Bridesmaid rok: Genevieve Atelier.
Hare: Cornell Hough van Illusion Hair Studio.
Makeup: Mia’s Make-up.
Gastehuis: Mo & Rose & Galloway Guest House.
en
www.gallowayguesthouse.co.za.
Caterers: Rooi Kombuis – Toitnette du Toit.
Blomme: Roodehoogte Blomme – Suné Colyn.
Fotograaf: Lizelle Lotter
Videograaf: Pieter Lombaard – Binary Film Works.
Klank: Haudio.
Music: Janine Fourie Music.
Koek: Rouxwil Guest Farm.
Ringe: Mr.Kruger Moreletta.
Rietvallei launches NEW WINE Estéanna Sauvignon Blanc
The newly released Rietvallei Estéanna Sauvignon Blanc 2018 marks a significant stylistic departure in this flagship wine’s evolution – expressing the exceptional potential of the vintage on the estate. In fact, it is the first single cultivar wine under the Estéanna label since its launch in 2009 and also the only one thus far where the Sauvignon Blanc was barrel- fermented and matured on the lees for nine months.
“During harvesting, I noted the potential of our Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the onset. The comparatively high sugar level and also the beautiful acid and pH were most exciting,” says Kobus Burger, winemaker and CEO of this leading Robertson estate. “Sauvignon Blanc forms the core of our wine production, representing 40% of the total. We have four different Sauvignon Blanc wines in our four wine ranges and I thus thought it would be fitting to add this unique new variation.”
“The wine’s name derives from our darling daughters, Esté and Annie, who were the inspiration behind it,” says Burger, who holds family values and traditions close to his heart.
The brand originally started with the red Estéanna 2007 blend in 2009. The first white Estéanna followed in 2012 – a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Viognier, with the Sauvignon Blanc dominating, but unwooded while the rest of the components were all barrel-fermented and -matured.
During the next four years the composition remained essentially the same, but from 2016 Chardonnay dominated in slightly varying cultivar compositions. The Estéanna 2017 – comprising Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc – won a coveted Veritas Gold last year. The Sauvignon Blanc vineyards are planted at various unique terroir locations on the estate, ranging from deep alluvial soils on the banks of the Breede River to red calcareous soils on southeast facing slopes. All the vineyards are trellised and under drip irrigation. Rietvallei is one of South Africa’s oldest family-owned wine estates, now in its 6th generation since 1864, where a wide range of noble cultivars is grown and the wines bottled in four individualistic ranges.
Winemaking
The selection process for this special cuvée already started with the identification of specific vineyards and taking special care from pruning and canopy management, right through to harvesting to ensure a low yield and premium quality. The grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness of 25°B. Only the free-run juice was selected and allowed to settle for three weeks at 5°C. The clean juice was then racked and transferred to stainless steel tanks for fermentation at 13°C. When reaching 15 °B, the must was transferred to second-fill French oak barrels and fermented totally dry; before nine months’ lees contact in barrel with regular battonage. Just before bottling in November, the wine was racked from the barrels, stabilised and fined. No filtration was done.
Winemaker’s description
A full-bodied, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc with outspoken aromas of passion fruit, grapefruit, green fig and a touch of capsicum. Crisp acidity, with a pleasing, creamy weight. The lingering aftertaste hints at the pedigree and longevity of this delicious wine.
Food pairing & serving
Enjoy with grilled fish or cream-based poultry dishes, even barbecued rack of lamb. Serve chilled (7 – 10ºC).
Chemical analysis
Residual Sugar 2.50 g/l Alcohol 14.18 %
Acidity 7.90 g/l PH 3.04
VA – 0.54 g/l Total Extract 23.1 g/l
Total SO2 121 mg/l Free SO2 45 mg/l.
To introduce and celebrate this delicious new release, Rietvallei hosted a lovely function, showcasing the Estéanna Sauvignon Blanc. Combined with delicious food, a beautiful venue and good company, this wine is right at home and well nestled in its place among Rietvallei’s other fine wines.
Rietvallei’s Awards Harvest
As the year draws to a close it is time for a different kind of harvest. It is the time when wineries have the opportunity to gain recognition from national and international competitions for the hard work and dedication that goes into every bottle of wine.
Rietvallei prides itself on a heritage of quality and innovation, so it will come as no surprise that this family wine estate has harvested several awards in the last few months. The awards harvest started in July, at the 2018 Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards, when the JMB Cabernet Franc 2015 was selected as the top Cabernet Franc in South Africa.
This was followed by and excellent showing at the 2018 Gold Wine Awards, where the Rietvallei John B range collected four gold medals for the John B Brut Bubbly, John B Pink Bubbly, John B Rosé and John B Sauvignon Blanc.
At the 2018 Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards Rietvallei rounded up yet another four gold medals with the JMB Cabernet Franc 2014, JMB Chardonnay 2017, Dark Cin (Cinsaut) 2016 and the Estéanna Red 2015. These wines are included in the Rietvallei Heritage Collection, a selection of special, limited edition wines.
Rietvallei continued their gold harvest at the 2018 Veritas Awards for the estate’s flagship white wine, the Estéanna White (a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc). To round it off, the Rietvallei Sauvignon Blanc 2018 was selected as runner-up at the FNB Sauvignon Blanc Top 10 competition, proudly adding its name to the top 20 list.
The accolades achieved by Rietvallei during this season’s awards harvest illustrates the broad range of consistently excellent and highly drinkable wines created by this family-owned wine estate.
