Weingut Hamilton Russell - Hochdotierte Weine der Walker Bay, Südafrika

Hamilton Russell Vineyards is located in the beautiful, cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, just behind the old fishing village of Hermanus. The estate specialises in the production of highly individual terroir-oriented Pinot Noir and Chardonnays, widely regarded as the best in South Africa and among the best in the world.

In 1975, founder Tim Hamilton Russell purchased the 170 hectares of land as the conclusion of an extensive search for the southernmost location where South Africa's premium cold climate wine could be produced with a selection of fine varieties. He was chairman of one of South Africa's leading advertising companies when he purchased this run-down property, which was to become one of the country's finest wine farms. In an industry not known for its progressive policies, he was a passionate advocate of minimum wages for black workers, and spearheaded the movement to abolish the "dope system" in which workers were paid with wine. In 1991 his son, Anthony Hamilton Russell, took over the farm, specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay only, and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as an estate committed to using only grapes from its own terroir.

Very interested in wine from an early age, winemaker Hannes Storm studied viticulture and oenology at the University of Stellenbosch. His first vintage at the Hamilton Russell Vineyards was in 2000, during his final year. After the 2000 vintage he was offered a permanent position, which he filled from January 2001 to November 2002. During this time he was part of the winemaking team that won numerous national and international awards. Extensive soil research in 1994 revealed that the 52 hectares of rocky, clayey, slate soil are ideally suited to the individual, original and expressive style that Hamilton Russell Vineyards aspires to.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards has earned a reputation for producing wines that span the old and new worlds. Only two varieties are grown: 22 hectares are planted with Pinot Noir vines and 30 hectares with Chardonnay. This contrasts with the usual New World model, in which up to 10 different varieties are grown, without attempting to concentrate on the varieties best suited to the existing terroir. Furthermore, the recent renewal of the vineyards is paying off with an increase in the quality of the Pinot Noir (the old Champagne clones of Pinot Noir have been gradually replaced). The estate's wine portfolio has now been expanded to include a second label, Southern Right, with a varietal Pinotage and a Chenin-based white wine. These wines are named after the rare Southern Right Whales that frequently visit the cool South Atlantic Walker Bay, which is only 3 km from the vineyards. With every bottle of Southern Right sold, a contribution is made to the Southern Right Whale Conservation