Eikendal Vineyards

Eikendal’s imposing white cellar buildings are a modern interpretation of the traditional Cape Dutch style.

The cellar is surrounded by three irrigation dams. Eikendal’s 60 hectares lie south-east of the historic town of Stellenbosch, on the lower slopes of the Helderberg mountains, barely 6 miles from False Bay. The wine-maker is Josef Krammer, assisted by Anneke Burger.

The Eikendal Chardonnay won a Silver Medal at the 1997 World Wine Championships in Chicago and is ranked amongst the top Chardonnays from South Africa. The 1994 Merlot won the North American Intervin International Award.

Pinotage carries three Eikendal wines:

Dali Tambo, son of the late ANC President Oliver Tambo, oversaw the christening of this year's vintage, "A beautiful wine titillates and excites the palate, and occasionally even the loins. Only the tasted of a beautiful woman can compare" He named a barrel of 96 Chardonnay, Matlala – "the one we go to when we’re hungry."

The micro-climate is influenced by the cooling effect of the sea breezes; this combines with the near-perfect soil structure of Eikendal’s vineyards to form conditions ideal for growing noble wines, natured to fulfillment with great care by their wine makers.

Noble varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc are grown at this vineyard.

Close to 50% of Eikendal vineyards have been planted with red grapes. The local soil is of decomposed sandstone mixed with clay.

The red wines are produced with temperature-controlled fermentation in contact with the skins, followed by 12 – 15 months of barrel aging and subsequent bottle maturation.

The Chardonnay is directly fermented in new French Oak barriques. It is aged ‘sur lie’ for three to four months, racked and aged in the barriques for another two to three months and then bottled and further matured.