in the vineyard : The grapes for the Hidden Valley 1998 Pinotage were selected from a 31 year old vineyard located in Devon Valley. The vineyard was purchased by Dave Hidden in 1995. The name Hidden Valley is derived from the owner's name and location of the farm. Total extent of this farm is 23 hectares - the Pinotage vineyard is about 6 hectares on a fairly steep south-west facing slope.
in the cellar : The grapes were crushed at two cellars viz: Devon Hill Winery (Devon Valley) and Grangehurst Winery (Helderberg) by two winemakers viz: Guy Webber (Devon Hill Winery) and Jeremy Walker (Grangehurst Winery). The mash was fermented in open red fermenters ("kuipe") at both cellars with regular punching through of the skins, up to 10 times per day. Fermented on the skins until 4º Balling at Devon Hill Winery and until dry at Grangehurst Winery, at temperatures of 28ºC to 36ºC. After pressing the free-run & press wines were blended and pumped into 30 x 225 litre barrels at Devon Hill Winery & 30 x 225 litres at Grangehurst Winery. The wine was barrel matured for 16 months in 70% French & American oak (50%, 1st fill, 35% 2nd fill, 15% 3rd fill). The wine ex Devon Hill Winery and Grangehurst Winery was racked out of barrels and filtered prior to bottling in May 2000. A total of 1 400 cases were produced.