DELHEIM

Vera Cruz Shiraz 2008                                                   4½ stars

Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon 2009                            4 stars

Delheim Shiraz 2008                                                     4 stars

Delheim Grand Reserve 2008                                      4½ stars

Delheim Spatzendreck Late Harvest 2010                 4 stars

Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest 2011            4½ stars

Delheim Merlot 2009                                                     3 stars

Delheim Pinotage 2010                                                  3½ stars

Delheim Chardonnay Sur Lie 2010                              4½ stars

Delheim Gewürztraminer 2010                                     4 stars

Delheim Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz                           3½ stars

Reg Holder has been appointed as winemaker at Delheim wine farm. Well-travelled and driven by a passion for terroir, Reg hails most recently from a five-year winemaking tenure at Neil Ellis Wines.

Having extensive experience of the Stellenbosch terroir, Reg is greatly enthused by the Simonsberg ward in which the Delheim vineyards reside. This, he feels, is ideally suited to classic cultivars; among them Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and his personal favourite, Shiraz – largely for its natural fruit and performance with minimal oak.

“Respecting the terroir and planting it to the right cultivar is a top priority,” Reg says. “Clearly expressing the region should be the ultimate goal of all activities, from vineyard management practices to choice of wood regime.”

“It’s critical to recognise that wine is a living thing. It will evolve long after bottling, and it must remain true to terroir, and unique.”

Wines with identity, Reg believes, are “South Africa’s real opportunity”, rather than a specific style or chosen cultivar. “If we stay true to the region and site with which we are charged, planting it to the right variety and handling it carefully, we are sure to create wines that are different and unique. With our incredible choice of top terroir, generic wines should not be considered a possibility.”

Reg is keen to experiment with lesser-known cultivars – such as Delheim’s popular Gewürztraminer; and looks forward to working with dessert wines made in “traditional style”. Methods and styles are likewise up for trial, in their ability to contribute to ultimate wine quality. The single proviso, Reg says, is that “the region remains clearly evident to the person holding the glass”.

Nelson Buthelezi

Ons is baie trots daarop dat Nelson Buthelezi van Delheim een van die vyf finaliste van die SA Kelderwerker-van-die-Jaar Program 2010 is.  Die resultate sal op 27 Augustus 2010 bekendgemaak word – ons kan nie wag nie!

Cheers! The 2010 Delheim Harvest Team

Delheim’s harvest is now almost over, with only the Rhine Riesling still on the vine, waiting for the necessary Botrytis to develop to make the Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest.

Initially, the ample winter cold and rain necessary for a great 2010 harvest augured well for Delheim.  Unfortunately, this optimism was not destined to last, as the long cold and wet spell then continued throughout the growing season in September and October, hampering the development of those varietals flowering at the time.  To make matters even worse, a few varietals already in full flower were threatened with downy mildew.

As if this were not enough, we then experienced uncharacteristically severe storm winds in November and December, resulting in extensive damage.  This wind was in fact so ruthless that shoots actually broke right off the cordon, resulting in an estimated loss of 50% to, in some varietals, 90% of our crop – especially devastating to us as we had initially thought that the harvest would be an exceptional one this year.  Director “Spatz” Sperling commented that this was the worst yield that he had experienced in more than 60 years of winemaking at Delheim, with an estimated 40% loss overall. Unfortunately, this shortfall in grapes is going to put severe pressure on the availability of some products. 

One consolation is that February this year was uncharacteristically moderate and cool, resulting in good quality grapes – so although small in volume, on the whole Delheim expects that the 2010 vintage is going to be a superior one.

THE DELHEIM TEAM