Anwilka
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Anwilka Vineyard is a joint venture between Bruno Prats, former owner of Chateau Cos-d'Estournel, Hubert de Bouard de Laforest, co-proprietor of Chateau Angelus in Bordeaux, and Lowell Jooste of Klein Constantia Estate.
Located in the prime red wine region of Helderberg in Stellenbosch, the vineyard was purchased in 1997, and production of Anwilka wines commenced in 2005.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes for the maiden Anwilka blend were harvested in March 2005, with 10% of the finished wine being released in South Africa on March 3rd 2006, a month before the release of the remainder - destined for the international market, through the Bordeaux trade.
The philosphy of the partners is simply to spare no cost when it comes to wine quality. Resources are not squandered on lavish gateways and buildings.
Soils at Anwilka are medium potential, allowing favourably low vine vigour, and careful consideration went into the matching of site and variety. The gentle slope of the vineyards assists drainage during the winter rains, but retain sufficient moisture to require minimal irrigation.
Grapes for the Anwilka label are selected from just 12 of the total 40 hectares planted. Stringent annual selection ensures only the best vineyard blocks are used, and yields in the designated vineyards are reduced by vigourous pruning and green harvesting, which reduced the 2005 yield to an average 5.5 tons/ha (35hl/ha).
With the help of respected Stellenbosch viticultural consultant Johan Wiese, Anwilka's neglected vineyards were extensively replanted by vineyard manager Piet Neethling in 1998. Plantings comprise 40ha Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz.
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Trizanne Pansegrouw
The three partners in the Anwilka venture are all from internationally respected wine operations: Prats successfully directed Chateau Cos-d'Estournel, the leading Medoc 2nd growth, for 28 years; de Bouard is co-proprietor of Chateau Angelus, a St-Emilion first-growth; and Lowell Jooste is co-owner of highly-regarded South African wine estate, Klein Constantia.
Winemaker Trizanne Pansegrouw is a qualified oenologist with plenty of experience packed into the 4 years since she graduated from Stellenbosch University. She has worked around the world: in Western Australia, Alsace, the Rhone and Bordeaux, and at Klein Constantia before moving to Anwilka in December 2004.
Vineyard manager Piet Neethling gained viticultural experience in the vineyards of Constania Uitsig and Klein Constantia. He has been involved in the Anwilka project from the start, when he supervised the vineyard replanting from 1998 onwards. He spent time in Bordeaux observing viticultural techniques during the 2004 and 2005 vintages, concentrating particularly on the use of green harvesting.
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