THE HISTORY OF GRAND RESERVE 1981 – 2001.
A wide range of wines are produced, led by the majestic Grand Reserve. This is the cellar’s flagship red, an aristocratic wine made from only the finest grapes. “Grand Reserve”, meaning simply the best, has been the fundamental motivation behind Delheim’s super red since the maiden vintage in 1981.

THE HISTORY
Visits to the Californian winelands by South African cellarmasters in 1981 – 82 started a revolution among the Cape winemakers. A revolution against their own traditional Cape red wine production methods. The reason? In the prestigious cellars of the Napa Valley, they found the best of the Californian red harvest maturing in thousands upon thousand of new French (225 litre Bordeaux style) oak barrels. Red wines of such superior style had never been found outside the areas of France before.

THE SECRET
Nurtured with minimum treatment and aged exclusively in small French oak, Delheim Grand Reserve follows no recipe, but rather a style. It may be a Merlot blend or a Cabernet Sauvignon with the latter gaining supremacy over time. Grand Reserve has been produced in limited quantities to ensure a world class quality.

THE RESULT
Since its release in 1981, Grand Reserve has been honoured with much prestigious recognition. It has been selected for every Nederburg Auction since the label was launched. A serious wine that merits careful cellaring for five to ten years to reach its full potential.
Delheim Grand Reserve information sheet from 1981 until 2006

THE FUTURE
The 2000 vintage will be released on the 1st of August 2003. This vintage is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

CELLARMASTERS OF GRAND RESERVE :
1980 – 1987 Kevin Arnold
1988 – 2000 Philip Costandius
2001 – 2002 Conrad Vlok
2003 – present Brenda Van Niekerk

recent comment:
Dear Delheim, Just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed our last bottle of your Grand Reserve 1984 last evening. We had purchased it as our last daughter's birth wine; we were unable to meet on her 25th birthday and so we had it yesterday with prime rib of beef. The penultimate bottle, tasted in 2007, was not good and we assumed it was "past its best and over the hill". However this last bottle was excellent, with still enough fruit and body to take the beef handily. John Dalton (04 January 2010)