{"title":"Alheit Vineyards","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"2022-alheit-vineyards-vine-garden-white-blend","title":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Vine Garden White Blend","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"3\"\u003eHemelrand is a unique field blend from a cold, windy site on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, located right at the Alheit winery. Chris and Suzaan Alheit have established a true \"vine garden\" here, where Chardonnay, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, and Verdelho are grown together. The goal is to bottle a snapshot of the site rather than a specific variety, and this 2022 release is a masterclass in high-altitude precision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"4\"\u003eThe 2022 season was kind to this marginal site, allowing the fruit to ripen slowly while retaining a bracing natural acidity. In the cellar, the winemaking is kept simple: the field blend is pressed together and fermented in a mix of old wood and concrete. It is a wine built on \"mountain air\" freshness, avoided any heavy-handed intervention to let the cold-climate fruit speak clearly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"5\"\u003eIn the glass, it is aromatic and stone-fruited, with a lovely herbal lift and notes of orange blossom. The palate is high-energy and linear, showing a crystalline purity that is a hallmark of the Alheits' work. It is a soulful, small-production blend that offers something completely different for the adventurous white wine drinker. Like everything from this estate, we only have a handful of bottles available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cblockquote\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One of my picks from Alheit this year. Excellent.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Neal Martin (Vinous)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42434479292459,"sku":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Vine Garden White Blend","price":69.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsVineGardenWhiteBlend.webp?v=1762818916"},{"product_id":"2022-alheit-vineyards-monument-semillon","title":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Monument Semillon","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Monument is a tribute to the historic La Colline vineyard in Franschhoek, planted in 1936. This is a field blend of Sémillon and Sémillon Gris, representing a piece of Cape history that Chris and Suzaan Alheit are determined to preserve. It is a wine of incredible weight and complexity, and arguably the most elusive bottle in their entire stable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe fruit is whole-cluster pressed and fermented in old barrels before aging on the lees for 18 months. No fining is used, preserving the natural breadth of this ancient site. Only 2,600 bottles were produced for the world in 2022, making it a true rarity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAromatically, it is exotic and savory, showing spicy peach and waxy melon. The palate is impressively weighty, offering a broad, creamy texture that finishes with a rocky, mineral edge. This is a rare, world-class Sémillon. Given the tiny production, it won't be on our shelves for long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\"The best Semillon site in South Africa\" is how Chris Alheit describes Anton and Koos Roux's 1936 La Colline vineyard\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW (Vinous)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42434487713835,"sku":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Monument Semillon","price":139.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsMonumentSemillonWrapped.webp?v=1762817847"},{"product_id":"2022-alheit-vineyards-huilkrans-chenin-blanc","title":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Huilkrans Chenin Blanc","description":"\u003cp\u003eHuilkrans is the baritone of the range. Sourced from the Oudam farm on the Skurfberg, these vines grow in deep red sand over clay. Chris and Suzaan Alheit are masters of this specific region, and after a two-year hiatus due to drought, this 2022 release marks the triumphant return of their most powerful and sought-after Chenin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe deep root systems of these 1970s plantings hit the clay beneath the sand, providing a steady moisture source that gives the wine its massive scale. It was fermented in foudres and old barrels, allowing the natural intensity of the Skurfberg fruit to take center stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a powerful, authoritative wine. Look for orange skin and a distinct Rooibos note on the nose. The palate is building and energetic, laced with a rusty minerality. It is a deep, textural experience that stands as one of the finest whites in the country. Availability is extremely limited.\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cblockquote\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e99 points \u0026amp; Overall White Wine of the Year\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This is a triumph over the elements by a world-class winemaker, with the density and understated power of a Corton-Charlemagne.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW (Vinous)\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42434487746603,"sku":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Huilkrans Chenin Blanc","price":149.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsHuilkransCheninBlancWrapped.webp?v=1762821127"},{"product_id":"2022-alheit-vineyards-nautical-dawn-chenin-blanc","title":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn Chenin Blanc","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhile a lot of the Alheit project focuses on inland heat, Nautical Dawn is all about the Atlantic. Sourced from a single granite hill in Firgrove, just 4km from the ocean, these vines are constantly battered by the sea breeze. Chris and Suzaan Alheit have a knack for finding these extreme sites where the vines have to struggle, resulting in wines with immense energy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2022 release is particularly concentrated. It was fermented naturally in a mix of cement eggs and old barrels, staying on the lees for a year to build mid-palate weight. The winemakers avoid any tricks here, letting the maritime site and the granite soils do all the heavy lifting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is bracingly fresh. It smells of lime zest and crushed shells, with a palate loaded with saline yellow fruit. There is a great \"crunch\" to the texture that makes it incredibly food-friendly. It is a world-class white with a massive following, and our small allocation never lasts long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"a Chenin Blane that supersedes its vintage with steely intensity, lots of stony minerality, notes of kelp and sea salt, lemon and lime fruit and a savoury, umami-like finish.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW (Vinous)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42434487975979,"sku":"2022 Alheit Vineyards Nautical Dawn Chenin Blanc","price":89.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsNauticalDawnCheninBlancWrapped.webp?v=1762818608"},{"product_id":"2023-alheit-vineyards-vine-garden-white-blend","title":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Vine Garden White Blend","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"8\"\u003eThe 2023 release of Hemelrand marks one of the most fascinating chapters in this vineyard’s history. Chris and Suzaan Alheit encountered a touch of botrytis in the Chenin Blanc just before harvest and made the bold decision to leave it in the blend. Rather than making a sweet wine, they fermented it to bone-dry, resulting in a \"Vine Garden\" with a level of exotic complexity we haven't seen from this site before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"9\"\u003eThe technical specs remain consistent with the Alheit ethos—natural fermentation in seasoned barrels and concrete—but the character of the 2023 is entirely its own. The \"noble rot\" hasn't added sugar, but it has contributed a distinct honeyed weight and a savory, waxy texture that balances the naturally high acidity of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"10\"\u003eThis is a deep, evocative white. It smells of peach, apricot, and dried flowers, while the palate offers a slightly more viscous, oily feel than previous years. A twist of bitter lemon on the finish keeps it perfectly upright and fresh. It is a brilliant, singular wine from two of South Africa’s most respected producers, and given the tiny yields of 2023, it is an exceptionally rare find.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Dense fruit and driving acidity before a deeply savoury finish. A compelling rendition of this wine\"\u003cbr\u003e- Christian Eedes (Wine Magazine))\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42522499350571,"sku":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Vine Garden White Blend","price":69.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2023AlheitVineyardsVineGardenWhiteBlend.webp?v=1764644994"},{"product_id":"2023-alheit-vineyards-cartology","title":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Cartology","description":"\u003cp\u003eCartology is the wine that redefined the Cape’s \"New Wave.\" Chris and Suzaan Alheit created this label as a liquid map of heritage vineyards, blending 94% Chenin Blanc with 6% Sémillon from dry-farmed bush vines. These sites represent the very best old-vine material South Africa has to offer, and the result is a wine that has become a true national icon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking is honest and minimalist. They use whole-bunch pressing and spontaneous fermentation in concrete eggs and old foudres. The juice is kept intentionally cloudy to build tactile texture, followed by 12 months on the lees. There is no new oak and no fining, just a pure expression of the vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, it is precise and powerful. You get lime, pear, and a distinct gravel road minerality. The palate is al dente, showing a racy acidity and a pithy finish that lingers. This is a legitimate benchmark of South African wine and we only have a tiny handful of bottles to go around.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Mineral, sappy, spicy and effortlessly focused like a rifle site, it has layers of oatmeal, citrus and wet stones and a savoury finish.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW (Vinous)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43903896911915,"sku":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Cartology","price":72.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsCartology_900f41b2-22f5-444d-ae22-5ba3a6a18829.webp?v=1781179701"},{"product_id":"2023-alheit-vineyards-fire-by-night-chenin-blanc","title":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Fire By Night Chenin Blanc","description":"\u003cp\u003eFire by Night comes from the Nuwedam farm on the Paardeberg, a site Chris and Suzaan Alheit call ground zero for the Cape’s quality revolution. These vines sit on a high ridge of pure, decomposed granite. That soil provides a crystalline clarity and focus that sets the Alheits' work apart from almost anything else in the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking is hands-off, using cement eggs and seasoned wood to preserve a spring-water purity. The 2023 is fine-boned and bristling, capturing the mountain air and fynbos of the Paardeberg. It spent a year on the lees to build texture, but the finish remains laser-focused.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nose is flinty and tight, showing green citrus and mountain herbs. On the palate, it is high-fidelity and racy, with a firm structure. It is arguably the most restrained and vibrating wine in the lineup. This is a serious collector’s piece and we are down to our final few bottles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You can taste the granite here, as well as the intensity of dry-farmed old vines: focused, taut and concentrated, with fennel, oatmeal and thatch aromas, subtle wood spices and a flinty, mouth-watering finish.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43903897731115,"sku":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Fire By Night Chenin Blanc","price":109.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsFireByNightCheninBlanc_a212d063-2b5d-48f6-abfd-b3292e5767df.webp?v=1781179637"},{"product_id":"2023-alheit-vineyards-hereafter-here-chenin-blanc","title":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Hereafter Here Chenin Blanc","description":"\u003cp\u003eHereafter Here is the Alheit project for the future. While the rest of the range focuses on the old guard, Chris and Suzaan Alheit sourced this from high-quality young vineyards in the Swartland and Polkadraai. They started this project to ensure the next generation has great vines to work with, and the quality is already startlingly high.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winemaking is identical to their flagship wines: whole-bunch pressed and wild fermented in old barrels. It is designed to be a moreish, accessible entry point into the Alheit style, though it still carries the same precision and depth as their single-site bottlings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a bright, juicy Chenin full of apple and sweet herbs. On the palate, it has a slow-moving swell of flavor that is both savory and pretty. It is a fantastic buy for anyone wanting to experience the Alheit DNA without the single-vineyard price tag, though like all their wines, we only have a small amount available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e94 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"a total bargain in the range, with a nice interplay of lees, beeswax and granite-derived structure and a touch of flinty reduction.\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43903899467819,"sku":"2023 Alheit Vineyards Hereafter Here Chenin Blanc","price":54.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2022AlheitVineyardsHereafterHereCheninBlanc_fb7e185e-79cf-4844-a612-07b39f47ede8.webp?v=1781179663"},{"product_id":"alheit-chenin-blanc-masterclass-pack","title":"Alheit Vineyard Chenin Blanc Masterclass Pack","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe are very excited to offer a minuscule allocation of some of the most exciting wines we've tried this year - the remarkable white wines of Alheit Vineyards in South Africa.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAlheit Vineyards is the winemaking project of husband and wife Chris and Suzaan Alheit, founded in 2010 with the mission of expressing the unique vinous identity of the Cape and the greatest old vineyards dotted throughout it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eTheir wines have received enormous critical acclaim in the ensuing years, culminating in Chris being named a few years ago as Tim Atkin MW's Winemaker of the Year.  This 2023 release is no exception, all with great scores and words.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWe tried these wines a few months back and were quite honestly blown away.  Old vine South African Chenin Blancs (with help from Semillon \u0026amp; friends) are some of the most exhilarating white wines on the planet, and these rare bottlings rank amongst the best.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eWe have only 12 of these packs available of these limited releases. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2023 Alheit Vineyards Fire By Night Chenin Blanc\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Fire by Night comes from the Alheits' Newudam farm, made with grapes from parcels planted between 1972 and 1985 on the Paardeberg. You can taste the granite here, as well as the intensity of dry-farmed old vines: focused, taut and concentrated, with fennel, oatmeal and thatch aromas, subtle wood spices and a flinty, mouth-watering finish. 2025-35\" \u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2023 Alheit Vineyards Huilkrans Chenin Blanc\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 points \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Huilkrans comes from Jozua Visser's Oudam farm, located at 450 metres in an isolated spot on Citrusdal Mountain, sometimes called the Skurfberg. Planted between 1974 and 1978, the vines are all dry-farmed, producing yields of almost painful paucity. Fermented in old barrels before ageing on lees for 12 months, this sings with what Chris Alheit calls a baritone voice. Green fig, lime and greengage flavours are complemented by a ferrous undertone and a stony finish. 2025-35\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e2023 Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North Chenin Blanc\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"After a two year break - best not to spend too long discussing why with Chris Alheit - Magnetic North is back to delight its many fans in 2023. Sourced from vines planted in 1981 and 1984 at 520 metres on the Van Lill farm on Citrusdal Mountain, this is a wine that marries power, depth and incredible focus and finesse. Racy, ferrous and very stony, with lots of underlying structure, notes of oyster shell, pink grapefruit and umami, negligible oak and a tapering finish. 2025-35\"\u003cbr\u003e- Tim Atkin MW\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alheit","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43984488923179,"sku":"Alheit Vineyard Chenin Blanc Masterclass Pack","price":399.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/AlheitVineyardCheninBlancMasterclassPack.webp?v=1778126370"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.differentdrop.com\/collections\/alheit-vineyards.oembed","provider":"Different Drop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}