Welcome to Botha Kelder
Botha Kelder registered as a co-operation in 1948.
One year later, they enjoyed their first harvest despite the cellar not being completed yet. This made for a difficult harvest but Botha Kelder produced a harvest of 3 386 tons that year.
The same determination, passion and sense of momentum that characterised its early years has fuelled Botha Kelder’s growth over the years, creating one of South Africa’s leading cellars today.
Today, Botha Kelder has a capacity of 38 000 tons and produces 30 million litres of wine, a large portion of which is sold to Europe, the UK and other parts of the world under private labels.
The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards 2017
Congratulations to our Winemakers and their team on the Double Gold and Gold medal achievement at The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards 2017. A sterling performance!
Spring Special
Dassie’s Blanc 2016 @ R25.00 per bottle until sold out. Friendships grow nicely in the sun, so head out into the sunshine and nature, take some selfies/photographs of you and your friend(s) and stand a chance of winning a case of Botha Kelder wines and a lunch for two at the stunning Bosjes Kombuis! Competition closes on 30 September 2017 at 4pm. Our Winemaking team will select their favourite photograph as the winner. Photo entries to be emailed to admin@bothkelder.co.za
The South African Champion Young Wine 2017 awards ceremony was held last night.
Botha Kelder was awarded Champion Other White Cultivar, for their Nouvelle. Huge congratulations to our Winemakers and their team! We are beaming with pride!
Congratulations to our Winemakers and their team on their sterling performance at the South African Young Wine Show 2017.
Trophy Winners:
Pietman Hugo Champion Trophy - 5 Best nominated wines
Laffort S.A. Champion Trophy - Chardonnay
Wine Machinery Champion Trophy - Other White Wine - Nouvelle
GV Tec Champion Trophy - Wooded Merlot
Absa Champion Trophy - Hanepoot Jerepigo
Class Winners:
Chardonnay
Hanepoot
Nouvelle
Sauvignon Blanc
Hanepoot Jerepigo
The South African Young Wine Show, dating back to 1833, gives winemakers the opportunity to showcase the best wines of the current vintage.
Botha Kelder’s biggest harvest ever - 42 149 tons!
Congratulations and thank you to everyone who helped achieve this fantastic record. Harvest 2017 ended yesterday and what a beaut it was!
The Sommeliers Selection
Well done to our winners in the category of “Economically Savvy Wine by the Glass - Whites”!
It is with much pride to announce that our Botha Kelder 2014 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay was selected for the 2017 Sommeliers Selection Wine List. The awards took place yesterday at the Hofmeyer Hall in Stellenbosch. The Sommeliers Selection Wine Competition has revolutionized local wine competitions. It is a competition with a difference, as it is judged solely by top South African Sommeliers. Winning wines, referred to as “Listed Wines” will be listed on the sought-after Sommeliers Selection wine list. This wine list will be distributed countrywide to trade and restaurants.
Our 2014 Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc received this review in Winemag.co.za :
The Chenin Blanc Initiative sees Breedekloof wineries collaborating around Chenin Blanc in order to uplift the image of the district and the Barrel Fermented 2014 from Botha Kelder is yet another of the wines which really impresses.
Grapes come from 24-year-old dryland bush vines and the wine was fermented and matured for 10 months in barrel, 60% new.
The nose displays citrus, peach as well as an intriguing herbal note before some leesy complexity. Big but balanced on the palate with layers of flavour. Sweet, sun-kissed fruit offset by snappy acidity. Pleasantly weighty with a long, savoury finish. Crazy good value at R75 a bottle.
Score: 92/100.
Rainfall
With rainfall at record lows and the possibility of an earlier than expected budbreak, there are feelings of uncertainty around the impact of the current drought and how this will affect the production of wine going forward. Groundwater levels are becoming low and extensive monitoring thereof is underway, but groundwater does not make up for lack of rain. It is predicted that the current status quo will continue and it is therefore imperative that grapegrowers will need to develop contingency plans to draw on extensive resources and information exchanges that will benefit everyone. The amount of water available will determine yields. A water shortage will mean that growers could be looking at greatly reduced yields, come harvest next year. Despite the possibility of lower yields, the water shortage will not necessarily have an impact on the quality of the grapes. July 2017 Dam levels are as follows: Berg River 40%, Brandvlei 20%, Bulshoek 54%, Clanwilliam 27%, Keerom (Nuy) 41%, Misverstand 104%, Steenbras 82%, Stettynkloof 84%, Theewaters-Kloof 21%, Voelvlei 22% Wemmers-Hoek 37%.