Producer Profile
Remhoogte
Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Remhoogte
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Sustainable wines crafted as a finely-cut diamond
Founded in 1812, Remhoogte (Dutch for ‘Brake Heights’) is situated on the steep South Western slopes of the famous Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch. Remhoogte’s history starts with the discovery of one of the largest diamonds ever found on the earth on the estate’s land. The diamond was named the Remhoogte and purchased by none other than the Queen of England. The diamond is now firmly set in the Queen’s crown and part of the history of the Commonwealth and the British link with South Africa.
Location: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Viticultural standards: members of the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative and of the Integrated Production of Wine Scheme
Website: www.remhoogte.co.za
Our pick of the best wine from this producer: ‘Free to Be’ Chenin Blanc
Interesting fact: Remhoogte is fully committed to sustainability, having set aside 30% of the estate and committed it to the Western Capes indigenous flora and fauna.
Remhoogte Wines
Remhoogte ‘Free to Be’ Riesling
£15.50Remhoogte ‘Free to Be’ Vine-Dried Riesling (37.5cl)
£12.50Remhoogte ‘Chronicle’ Cape Blend
£14.99Remhoogte ‘Chronicle’ Cape Blend Magnum
£30.00Remhoogte ‘Free to Be’ Red
£15.50Remhoogte ‘Free to Be’ Skin-Contact Chenin
£23.00Remhoogte ‘Vantage’ Pinotage
£16.50Remhoogte First Light Chenin
£11.99Remhoogte Honeybunch Chenin
£22.00Remhoogte Honeybunch Chenin Magnum
£40.00Remhoogte Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
£29.99Remhoogte Reserve Sir Thomas Cullinan
£24.99Remhoogte Reserve Syrah
£29.99- OUT OF STOCKSALE
Vintage Remhoogte Cape Blend 2007
£35.00 Vintage Remhoogte Pinotage 1997
£69.99- OUT OF STOCKSALE
Vintage Remhoogte Reserve Cabernet 2008
£35.00 Vintage Remhoogte Reserve Merlot 2001
£35.00
It was the Remhootge diamond that changed the family’s trajectory, providing them with the initial capital to start their winemaking venture. This is a true family business now run by second generation brothers Chris – the estate’s winemaker – and Rob, who took over the running of the business from their parents Murray and Juliet Boustred.
The complex Remhoogte soils are over 250 million years old, some of the oldest of any wine region in the world, resulting in wines rich in character and authenticity with a unique sense of place. With the soils, slopes and terroir being perfectly suited for the production of top end red wines the focus is on Bordeaux varietals as well as South Africa’s own Pinotage. On the white wines the focus is on old Chenin Blanc vines, a cultivar that performs incredibly well in this region.
Chris’ approach is minimalist, trying to intervene as little as possible for the full and natural expression of the grape’s potential. Everything in the vineyard, from pruning to harvesting, is done by hand. In the cellar only wild and naturally occurring yeasts are used for fermentation, the wines are not fined or filtered and only a small amount of SO2 is added prior to bottling. Chris says that his goal is to ‘facilitate the production’, rather than manufacturing wine, allowing each bottle to unlock the experience of a specific time and place.