Background

Audacia is a small, boutique winery located in the same quality red wine producing area that prominent wineries like Rust-en-Vrede and Alto. Audacia aims to produce limited quantities, in the order of 400 tons, of high quality red wines. Ultimately we will be releasing only one wine under the Audacia label, simply called "Audacia". This red wine will be a unique blend of "uncommon" red wine cultivars grown on the Farm.

Together with the dawn of the new century, Audacia Wines is also starting a new era. With the appointment of the new general Manager/Winemaker, Elsa Carstens in April 1999, Audacia is being steered into a new direction where absolute quality is the order of the day.

Elsa holds a Hons. B.Sc. Agric. (Enology) as well as a Masters degree in Wine Microbiology from the university of Stellenbosch. She was the first female lecturer ever to be appointed at Elsenburg Agricultural College. After fine years of teaching Wine Microbiology, she was appointed as the head of Cellar Technology at the same college. During Septermber and October 1999, Elsa visited the Napa Valley in California, USA where she worked for two months during the harvest season in one of the well-known cellars, Cakebread. Her aim was to gain first hand experience in the production of quality red wine. For Elsa it was also imperative to get to know the wine industry in the USA, one of the more difficult countries to enter with regard to wine exports from South Africa. She will use the experience gained during her stay in California to establish Audacia as one of South Africas leading boutique wineries.

The new phase in the life of Audacia commenced with the opening of our new tasting room and offices in December 1999 in order to give personal attention to each and every person who visits the farm. The tastings are conducted in a cottage on the farm, designed to make you feel welcome in a luxurious, though relaxed setting with a view over the mountains. In winter you can join us in front of the fireplace to taste our wines.

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