Rozendal

Our History

The farm is situated in the Jonkershoek Valley on the border of Stellenbosch, at the foot of the Jonkershoek mountains. The farm and cellar buildings are more than 150 years old.

Rozendal Farm was purchased by the Ammann family in 1982 and at the time was not producing wine. Merlot grapes where planted in 1983 on Rozendal. Our first vintage ? the 1983 vintage ? was made from grapes from the neighbouring Lanzerac vineyards which where leased at the time to Rozendal farm. In 1984 we planted Cabernet Franc and in 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon was also planted. Wine from our own grapes was made the first time in 1986. Our grapes are hand-picked. Rozendal Farm is currently certified organic and in-conversion Biodynamic (BDOCA 033 GLPr 2003).

Rozendal is between 150 and 200 m above sea level ? this compares with the St.Emillon and Pommerol regions, hence the choice of cultivars.

Our philosophy

Since 1994 Rozendal is managed biologically (bio+logical = biological) with an environmental and health conscious approach which ensures clean air and pure water. In May 2001 we switched to Biodynamic farming methods and have become members of the Biodynamic Agricultural Association.

Quality in simplicity and maturing rather than aging are the threads which link all activities on the farm.

In the cellar

Our wines are made biologically. We do not filter our wines and maturation of our wines (not ageing) takes place over two years in oak barrels. We add minimal sulfur to our wines but work instead with temperature, ensuring that the wine is kept for one year at 18 degrees Celsius and for one year at 15 degrees Celsius. We have also replaced our stainless steel tanks with large French oak vats for the initial wine processes.

Our wines are seemingly easier for those to drink that normally suffer with red wine ? we have many people say that they do not get a headache from Rozendal ? whereas they normally would from other wines.

Our cellar produces between 20 000 and 30 000 bottles of wine per year.