{"title":"Alheit Vineyards | Hemelrand","description":"\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: start;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"float: none;\" alt=\"Alheit Vineyards wrapped bottles of Lost \u0026amp; Found straw wine\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Lost_and_Found_Banner.jpg?v=1764065422\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSince their debut vintage in 2011, Chris and Suzaan Alheit have revolutionised the perception of South African white wine. Based at Hemelrand on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, their focus is not on their own winery, but on a vinous search across the Cape for its most precious resource: old, dry-farmed, heritage vineyards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlheit Vineyards is celebrated for restoring these low-yielding bush vines - many of them Chenin Blanc and Sémillon - to produce wines of profound purity, complexity, and mineral intensity. Their philosophy is simple: \"The voice of the land, not the mark of the winemaker.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Alheits embrace a minimalist, hands-off approach that allows the terroir to speak clearly. Fruit is sourced exclusively from vineyards generally aged 35 to 50+ years, farmed without irrigation. In the winery only indigenous, wild yeasts are used and maturation takes place in old barrels, concrete eggs, and foudres - never new oak - to ensure the vessels merely hold the wine, not flavour it. This meticulous, European-inspired approach results in wines that offer powerful concentration while maintaining a brilliant freshness and age-worthiness.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"alheit-vineyards-cartology","title":"Alheit Vineyards Cartology 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Alheit Vineyards Cartology is the quintessential expression of South Africa’s New Wave movement and the cornerstone of Chris and Suzaan Alheit’s project. Named for the \"study of maps,\" this wine is a magnificent blend of 92% Chenin Blanc and 8% Sémillon, meticulously sourced from rare parcels of dry-farmed, heritage bushvines - many of them over 40 years old - spread across several distinct regions of the Western Cape. The 2024 vintage, marked by low yields and healthy, concentrated fruit, is already being hailed as one of the best recent releases. It achieves a thrilling balance between concentration and freshness, perfectly reflecting the diverse slate, granite, and sandstone soils from which it is born. The nose is immediately striking with aromas of ripe pear, kumquat, lime zest, and subtle jasmine. Nuances of honeycomb, dried herbs, and wet gravel emerge as the wine opens. On entry the palate is energetic and beautifully shaped. It offers a medium-full body and a waxy texture, framed by vibrant, racy acidity. Flavours move seamlessly from ripe stone fruit (apricot, white peach) to savoury, salty tension on the mid-palate. The finish is exceptionally long, deep, and resonant, finishing bone dry with a compelling mineral grip that encourages the next sip. [#intro]Cartology is the vinous map of the Cape, an iconic blend of ancient dry-farmed vines...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alheit Vineyards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57452836946301,"sku":"A24ALHEITCARTOLOGY-1","price":40.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/CartologyBT.jpg?v=1764068763"},{"product_id":"alheit-vineyards-lost-found-straw-wine","title":"Alheit Vineyards Lost \u0026 Found Straw Wine 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eLost \u0026amp; Found is a profoundly special and unique bottling from Alheit Vineyards, marking a rare venture into sweet wines. This wine is a Straw Wine (or Vin de Paille), a style achieved by painstakingly drying grapes on wooden racks after harvest to concentrate the sugars and flavours before pressing. This particular 2019 vintage is a one-off bottling of great personal significance to Chris Alheit, sourced from an ancient Muscat of Alexandria vineyard (known locally as Hanepoot) in the Breedekloof region. This ancient vineyard, dating back to the 1880s, offered a unique density and concentration perfectly suited for this demanding style and this was the last vintage farmed by the De Wet Boonzaaier family who lived on and farmed Gevonden for six generations. To craft this wine, the grapes are laid out on wooden racks and on shade cloth, allowing them to dry outdoors for a full two weeks. The resulting raisins are then pressed for five days at full pressure, yielding syrup with a sugar concentration of around 54 Brix (54% mass\/volume). This juice fermented for more than a year in stainless steel, finally becoming stable at just over 7% alc with a residual sugar of around 450g\/. It sits in the glass like a smouldering ember, joyous, full of sunshine, reeking of apricots and marmalade fireworks.  It tastes completely decadent: Fiery and silky; sweet and sour. [#intro]Decadent, complex straw wine from ancient vines; rich apricots, marmalade, and eternal freshness...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alheit Vineyards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57471942164861,"sku":"A19ALHEITLOST\u0026FOUND","price":80.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/Lost_FoundBT.jpg?v=1764344870"},{"product_id":"alheit-magnetic-north","title":"Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North comes from two specific plots of ungrafted, dry-farmed Chenin Blanc vines planted in the early 1980s. Located on a high-altitude ridge in the Citrusdal Mountain ward (Skurfberg), the vineyard is defined by its \"Magnetite\" red ironstone and sand. This unique geology gives the wine its namesake - a magnetic, vertical pull that distinguishes it from almost any other Chenin Blanc in the world. In the cellar, Chris Alheit remains a servant to the fruit. The 2023 was whole-bunch pressed and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wine spent roughly 12 months in old, neutral French oak barrels, followed by a rest in stainless steel on the fine lees. There is no new oak here; the wood is simply a vessel for oxygen exchange, allowing the wine’s natural \"salt-and-citrus\" intensity to shine. The 2023 vintage is electric. It opens with an intense nose of lime zest, wet flint, and white flowers. On the palate, it is incredibly concentrated yet weightless - a paradox of ripe pear and peach fruit slashed through by a laser-like line of acidity and a distinct, saline finish. This is not just wine; it is a map of a mountain. It represents the absolute pinnacle of what South African old-vine Chenin can achieve. For those who seek precision, longevity, and a true sense of place, Magnetic North is the ultimate \"Bonafide\" find. [#intro]A crystalline, mountain-grown Chenin defined by searing mineral tension \u0026amp; pure, sun-drenched stone fruit...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alheit Vineyards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57779973292413,"sku":"A23ALHEITMAGNETICNORTH","price":80.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/MagneticNorthBT.jpg?v=1770071323"},{"product_id":"alheit-vineyards-hemelrand-vine-garden","title":"Alheit Vineyards Hemelrand Vine Garden 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Alheit Hemelrand Vine Garden is produced from a single vineyard planted in 2010 on the cold, wind-swept Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. It is a true field blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Roussanne, Verdelho, and a touch of Muscat. Rather than blending finished wines, the varieties are picked and pressed together, allowing the vineyard's specific high-altitude \"voice\" to lead the way. In keeping with Chris Alheit's low-intervention philosophy, the 2024 was fermented with native yeasts in old, neutral French oak barrels. The wine matured on its lees for around a year, gaining a subtle, creamy texture without any \"toasty\" wood interference. The result is a wine that feels incredibly pure and vertical, reflecting the stony soils and the cooling Atlantic breezes that define the Ridge. The 2024 vintage is remarkably vibrant. The nose is a complex mix of white peach, apricot, and a hint of orange blossom. On the palate, it has a beautiful, waxy weight that is immediately cut through by a laser-like acidity. It is both sun-ripened and stone-cold - a perfect balance of South African fruit and \"Old World\" structure. This is a wine that rewards the patient drinker. It is a \"Bonafide\" expression of a single place, offering a level of sophistication usually reserved for top-tier Burgundy. It’s a standout choice for anyone looking to explore the cooler side of the Cape’s white wine revolution. [#intro]An elegant, high-altitude field blend offering stone fruit depth, exotic spice \u0026amp; crystalline mountain freshness...[\/intro]\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alheit Vineyards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57780000260477,"sku":"A24ALHEITVINEGARDEN","price":38.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/files\/HemelrandVineGarden.jpg?v=1770072752"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0106\/1539\/0266\/collections\/Alheit_Vineyards_Logo.jpg?v=1764065612","url":"https:\/\/hic.wine\/collections\/alheit-vineyards-hemelrand.oembed","provider":"Hic!","version":"1.0","type":"link"}