Background

In 1994, Anthony Hamilton Russell (owner of Hamilton Russell Vineyards) founded Southern Right Cellars as a Pinotage specialist, convinced that Pinotage has the intrinsic qualities to produce truly world class wine with a distinct South African expression and typicity. As an early ripening grape, it was his belief that Pinotage would perform best in cooler, maritime areas, where a longer, slower ripening season would afford fully developed tannins and greater fruit complexity.

In partnership with Kevin Grant (winemaker), the team initiated joint venture plantings on four carefully chosen, clay-rich sites in the cool, maritime, Walker Bay appellation. Following in-depth soil research on Hamilton Russell Vineyards, into the stylistic impact of soil structure, the team are convinced that the most origin expressive, complex wines will be made off the stony, clay-rich Bokkeveld shale soils in the area. In 1998, a 113ha farm in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus, was purchased as a central home for the Southern Right cellar.

The first Pinotage and Sauvignon blanc were released in 1995 and Southern Right Cellars plans over the longer term to produce 10 000 cases of Pinotage and 10 000 cases of Sauvignon blanc. The focus will always be on achieving the highest possible degree of quality, individuality and site expression.

With each bottle of Southern Right wine sold, Southern Right Cellars makes a contribution to Southern Right whale conservation in the Walker Bay.

Pinotage - SAA Wine of the Month - First Class Winner of Pinotage Top 10 Trophy
Sauvignon Blanc - SAA Wine of the Month - First Class for 2 consecutive vintages.

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