Bartinney Élevage 2017

On the slopes of Botmaskop overlooking the picturesque Banghoek Valley in Stellenbosch lies the Bartinney Wine Estate. Not far from the towns of Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, there are stunning views of the vineyards. The 28 hectares of the estate, founded in 1912, have been farmed by the Jordaan family since 1953, and today it is Rose and Michael Jordaan who are in charge of Bartinney. They pursue their vision of creating excellent wines with the conviction that agriculture and nature, man and animal must be in harmony. Therefore, the aspect of sustainability plays a major role – according to the motto "A great wine starts in the vineyard and a great vineyard is located in a diverse and healthy ecological environment."

Bartinney itself contributes to keeping nature in balance: native fynbos was established on a former 17-hectare pine and eucalyptus plantation. Rose Jordaan founded a tree nursery in which she grows this very fynbos – and has thus created a habitat for numerous animals. The fynbos plantations form a corridor from the mountains to the Zevenrivieren River, providing a home for birds, porcupines and lynx, for example. Between the mountains and the vineyard is a belt of proteas to prevent baboons from raiding the vines. The best conditions, therefore, for producing excellent wines at an altitude of 550 metres above sea level. The cooler, higher slopes are planted with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, while the lower slopes offer perfect conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard that provides the grapes for Hourglass Chardonnay – the flagship white wine – is also home to something very special: landscape artist Strydom van der Merwe has created a two-hectare "elevage" sculpture – the first of its kind in the world that can even be seen from an aeroplane.

The term "Elevage" is significant for the Bartinney winery in several respects. On the one hand, the winged figure adorns the logo of the estate, on the other hand, "Elevage" is significant for the wine production. Behind the term lies the French art of allowing the grape varieties of a wine to mature individually so that it can develop its best characteristics and thus rise to its highest perfection. In order to achieve this, the team works hand in hand and with gentle methods; instead of pesticides, biological pest control agents are used. The winery produces its wines in a CO2-neutral way and half of the electricity is generated by solar energy. The wine and nature paradise can be enjoyed in many ways at Bartinney: On a hike through the vineyards or walks along the winding paths of the estate. The fruity white wines and the classic red wines can be tasted in a bar in Stellenbosch or directly on the estate in the tasting room. The Hourglass Chardonnay and the Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon are the best Bartinney has to offer because the two limited-edition wines are the highest art of winemaking. Speaking of art, the tasting room is adorned by an extraordinary chandelier made from old vines. On the terrace, you can enjoy the incomparable panoramic view over the valley with a nice glass of wine.