Andreas Wines
Wellington, South Africa
This enchanting boutique wine estate in Wellington's Bovlei district is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for Jan and Anita Bokdal.
Owners of a successful landscaping business in their native Sweden, Jan and Anita had spent years searching throughout Europe for a compact and manageable farm on which to produce a worthy wine, and eventually retire.
Finally in 2005, they decided to holiday in the Cape, and visit its famed winelands. On arriving in Wellington, they fell in love with the landscape, the people, the climate and a little piece of heaven called Andreas.
With a history dating back to the first Huguenot settlement in the Valley, the farm forms part of the land originally granted to Barend Blum, in 1699. First aptly known as "Vrugtbaar" (Fruitful), the estate was renamed Groenendal in the 1840's, changing hands many times before being subdivided in 2001, with a portion becoming what is now Andreas.
Instantly recognising its potential, the Bokdals purchased the farm, and today this 6ha gem, with its beautiful gardens and elegant listed homestead dated 1799, continues to be true to its early promise of bounty.
Andreas has just 4.5ha under Shiraz vines. Long, hot summer days cooled by late afternoon breezes, chilly, wet winters, and a combination of sandy and loamy soils provide the perfect terroir for this noble cultivar, producing small, dark, intensely flavourful berries which are the hallmark of a fine local Shiraz.
Influenced by Biodynamic principles, ecologically sensitive vineyard management is stringently adhered to. They use no insecticides, and natural predators are encouraged, in line with IPW (Integrated Production of Wine).
The farm also has a 1ha Olive grove which is also flourishing and they intend to make use of its fruit and oil in the near future, but whatever they produce will be afforded the same loving care, dedication and meticulous attention to detail as their wines.
