After a relatively cool growing season, with welcoming rains during crucial parts of the fruit ripening process, shares viticulturist Francois De Villiers, it is still uncertain as to what the final impact of the severe drought will be. “With smaller bunches and uneven ripening due to the external factors we’ve experienced in the lead up to harvest, we are quite happy to see the improvement in quality compared to the 2018 vintage.”

With more favourable weather conditions and enough water to provide optimal care for the vineyards, all of which are contributing factors in creating an excellent, quality-driven vintage, the 2019 vintage promises to deliver more flavour intense wines. What’s more, the low pH values of the grapes indicate that 2019 should be an excellent vintage for cellaring.

According to Abraham, the harvest is not without its challenges, of which one already took place early in the harvest period. “We had quite a scare in the cellar when our biggest press decided to rotate at an alarmingly high speed. Luckily, we kept our nerves and could stop it in time. The final verdict was that it was a computer malfunction, but it was quite a scary experience to see a 50-ton press on the move!”

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Awarded to Credo Shiraz Merlot Viognier 2016, Credo Chenin Blanc 2016, Stellenbosch Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Stellenbosch Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2018 and Infiniti MCC 2014, proves that the wines produced by Stellenbosch Vineyards are truly comparable with the world’s best. Additionally, two silver medals were also bestowed upon Stellenbosch Vineyards Bushvine Pinotage 2016 and Stellenbosch Vineyards Shiraz 2016.

In one of the most competitive line-ups in the history of the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, more than 2200 wines were entered for the competition which is judged by a panel of 30 international wine and spirit experts from 16 countries.

Assistant winemaker, Petri de Beer who attended the award ceremony comments, “It is a great honour to be acknowledged with these prestigious awards as it reinforces that our methods to produce premium wines deliver a rewarding experience and is satisfactory to consumers globally.”

Make use of the opportunity to experience these award-winning wines at the Stellenbosch Vineyards tasting room situated on the historic Welmoed Farm in Stellenbosch, on our online shop and at selected retailers.

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AdVini announced today that it has acquired a majority share in Stellenbosch Vineyards, the torch bearing winery of South Africa’s premium wine route. As a storied wine business with a strong history of accolades for its portfolio of brands, Stellenbosch Vineyards is an international player, with distribution in more than 30 countries around the globe. These brands include the prestigious Stellenbosch Vineyards Collection of Fine Wines, Welmoed, Arniston Bay and Versus. With the established winemaking facility, bottling activities and logistical centre that’s supported by a reputable back office, the acquisition provides a strategic benefit for AdVini South Africa that complements its activities.

The acquisition follows after an international distribution agreement was entered into at the beginning of the year, which covers the Americas, Asia, Travel-Retail and the rest of the world markets. Stellenbosch Vineyards, with its historic success, will continue to deal directly with existing customers.

“With the addition of Stellenbosch Vineyards, our South African wine offering in the premium segment is vastly becoming an enticing selection, together with international brands that meet the demand of our retail customers and consumers, in a model that is particularly respectful of the social and environmental values,” says Antoine Leccia, CEO of AdVini.

“AdVini is present in more than a hundred countries due to its sales network and close relationships with its customers. We, at Stellenbosch Vineyards, are all proud to be joining the AdVini family” says Eduan Steynberg, MD of Stellenbosch Vineyards.

Since its inception, Stellenbosch Vineyards has cultivated long-term relationships with top grape growers to establish its exceptional range of wines. The winery currently sources fruit from several vineyard sites and strongly supports farms that focus on economic, human and environmental factors. As major players in French and South African vineyards, both partners pay close attention to these social issues. In addition, Stellenbosch Vineyards is a registered Fairtrade producer and a member of the Agricultural Ethical Trade Initiative (WIETA).

Stellenbosch Vineyards is located on the historic Welmoed wine farm, which dates back to 1690. Wine enthusiasts are welcome to explore the great quality of wines produced on the farm, alongside its one-of-a-kind wine and food experiences that’s pronounced Stellenbosch Vineyards as one of the finest gems of the Stellenbosch wine region.

About Stellenbosch Vineyards

Stellenbosch Vineyards is one of the leading wine producers and exporters in South Africa, set in the heart of South Africa’s wine industry – the picturesque Stellenbosch wine region. Internationally celebrated for the company’s pioneering performance and exceptional brands, Stellenbosch Vineyards provides innovative, branded and private label solutions in partnership with its customers in various FMCG and other wine sales sectors. With a unique portfolio of exceptional brands, Stellenbosch Vineyards brings 80% of its volume to markets around the globe with the rest sold locally.

Turnover 2017: 13.5 Million €

About AdVini

With 2.333 hectares of vineyards, in the heart of the most famous French wine regions, AdVini has become the leading actor in France for terroir wines. The extensive portfolio includes Ogier and its Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes in Châteauneuf-du-Pape; Antoine Moueix Propriétés with Château Capet-Guillier in Saint-Emilion and Château Patache d’Aux in Médoc; Domaine Laroche in Chablis, Maison Champy in Burgundy in Côte-de-Beaune; Vignobles Jeanjean and the Mas La Chevalière in Languedoc; Domaine Cazes and its estate Clos de Paulilles in Roussillon; Gassier with the Château Gassier and Château de Roquefeuille in the Provence Sainte-Victoire area; Rigal and Château de Chambert in Cahors.

AdVini is also present in South Africa with 200 hectares of vine in Stellenbosch with L’Avenir, a Wine & Tourism complex, Ken Forrester Vineyards, Le Bonheur Wine Estate and Maison du Cap. Lastly in Chile with Vina Casablanca, 150 ha owned in partnership with Santa Carolina.

AdVini’s Wine estates are increasingly growing in notoriety and recognition and export to 106 countries.

Turnover 2017: 250 Million €

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