Oldenburg Vineyards

Deep in the Banghoek Valley, eight kilometres from Stellenbosch on the road to Franschhoek, a winding road leads off the beaten track into an elevated mountain amphitheatre of extraordinary beauty. At its heart stands Oldenburg Vineyards, arranged around Rondekop -- a perfectly round hill that owner Adrian Vanderspuy and winemaker Nic van Aarde consider the eighth and most mysterious of the natural elements that shape their wines.

Vanderspuy purchased the property in 2003, but it was not until the mid-2010s that the full ambition of the project became clear. He recognised that leaf-roll virus was compromising his vision of world-class wine, and embarked on a courageous programme of replanting. Over twenty of the farm's thirty hectares were removed and replanted, the total number of vineyard blocks increased from sixteen to more than forty, and each new planting was precision-matched to the ancient granites and Table Mountain sandstones -- soils over 600 million years old -- that give Rondekop its singular character.

Nic van Aarde, the winemaker whose mission is to 'let the terroir talk,' applies minimal manipulation in the cellar and gentle extraction to produce wines of balance and elegance. Under his stewardship, the Rondekop Per Se Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 was named Platter's South African Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year for 2026 -- a landmark moment for the estate. He also pioneered a hyperoxidation technique for the Rondekop Una V Chardonnay, named after Vanderspuy's iconic gardener grandmother Una Van der Spuy.

The portfolio is structured in three tiers. The CL (Cool) Series offers delicious, refreshing wines that convey the natural coolness of the elevated terroir. The Oldenburg Vineyards series comprises exceptional single-cultivar wines -- Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache Noir, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc -- showcasing the diversity of soils and microclimate. At the summit, the Rondekop series represents the finest barrels: Rhodium (red blend), Stone Axe (Syrah), Per Se (Cabernet Sauvignon) and Una V (Chardonnay).

The Tasting Room commands what the estate's sommeliers simply call 'The View' -- a panorama of the mountain amphitheatre and Rondekop itself. All tastings include a complimentary platter of locally sourced cheese, crackers and olives. The Rondekop Wine Club offers members priority allocation, access to library vintages and large formats, exclusive dinners, and member rates at The Homestead -- a meticulously restored 200-year-old Cape Dutch villa offering exclusive five-bedroom accommodation surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and pristine gardens.

Oldenburg is a certified WWF Conservation Champion, practising regenerative farming with cover crops, indigenous fynbos corridors, Dexter cattle and Kolbroek pigs for natural weed control, solar power independence, and natural pest management through guinea fowl, wasps and ladybirds. It is an estate where the pursuit of exceptional wine and the stewardship of an extraordinary place are one and the same mission.