in the vineyard : Background
Grapes have been grown on Neethlingshof for more than 300 years or within 50 years of the Dutch East-India Company establishing a victualling station at the Cape to supply its passing ships. The farm was initially called De Wolvendans (The Dance of Wolves). Soon after full ownership of the farm was acquired by Johannes Henoch Neethling towards the end of the 1820s, the name was changed to Neethlingshof.
A member of the Biodiversity & Wine Initiative, acknowledged for its protection of indigenous habitat, the 273 ha estate has set aside 116 ha for conservation. It cultivates both red and white varietals, with the bias marginally in favour of whites. The main white varieties are Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. The predominant soil types found on the farm are Oakleaf and Tukulu.
Vineyards
The trellised Gewürztraminer vines, 17 years old at the time of picking and grafted onto Richter 99 rootstocks, are established in deep red Tukulu soils on the southern slopes facing False Bay. The sea breezes have a cooling influence on the vineyard during the summer months to decelerate ripening and make for more concentrated flavours.