Orange River Cellars – Home
Top 100 SA National Wine Challenge 2017
Top 100 / Double Platinum
Red Muscadel 2016
White Muscadel 2016
Lyra Vega 2014
Lyra Shiraz Reserve 2014
Keimoes-kelder Oorrompel Oranje-Vaal Jongwynskou met Top-Wyne
Die Keimoes-kelder, een van Orange River Cellars se vyf wynproduksie-eenhede, het skoonskip gemaak by die pas afgelope Oranje-Vaal Jongwynskou op Douglas. Keimoes het die Oranjerivier Wynkelders wisseltrofee vir Beste Algehele Prestasie gewen asook die Bacchus wisseltrofee trofee vir Algehele Beste Wyn en in altesame nege van die 17 kategorieë geseëvier.
‘n Uitstaande kenmerk was hoe Keimoes sy diversiteit ten toon gestel het met ’n verskeidenheid wyne. Keimoes het uitgeblink in diverse kategorieë, vanaf Beste Prestasie Wit onversterkte wyn (6 wyne), Beste Prestasie Rooi Onversterkte wyn (4 wyne) en Beste Prestasie Versterkte Wyne (3 wyne).
Volgens Mosdop Dippenaar, bestuurder van die Keimoes-kelder, kan vanjaar se Jongwynskou-prestasies toegeskryf word aan die natuur, mense en tegnologie.
“Die wingerdboere het vanjaar uitstaande druiwe gelewer ondanks moeilike weersomstandighede, en hierdie kwaliteit is te danke aan hul verbintenis tot gehalte onder leiding van Orange River Cellars se wingerdboukundiges,” sê Dippenaar.
“Keimoes se kelderspan het gewys dat hy onder die druk van groot volumes druiwe weier om die strewe na top-gehalte wyn prys te gee, ’n gesindheid wat deur al Orange River Cellars se kelders gedeel word. Die feit dat Keimoes tydens vanjaar se oes kon staatmaak op die aller-modernste tegnologie, soos masjinerie om die pH-vlakke in balans te bring, het ook ’n vername rol in die wyngehalte gespeel en bewys die belangrikheid van ’n wetenskaplike benadering tot wynmaak in ’n wynbesigheid van ons omvang.”
Dippenaar sê Keimoes se benadering reflekteer die toewyding en passie tot gehalte wat by al vyf Orange River Cellars se produksie-eenhede bestaan. “Die Jongwynskou gee ons almal egter kans om op ’n goeie voet mee te ding en hierdie gesonde gees van mededinging dra beslis by tot die algehele verbetering in kwaliteit wat deesdae in die wyne van Orange River Cellars te sien is,” sê hy.
Keimoes se sukses op die Oranjevaal Jongwynskou volg een week nadat Keimoes kelder op die Suid Afikaanse Nasionale Jongwynskou, die grootste en oudste wynskou in Suid-Afrika, die trofee vir die Nasionale Kampioen Muskadel gewen het.
Die volledige uitslae van die 2016 Oranje-Vaal Jongwynskou:
Beste Prestasie Algeheel
Oranjerivier Wynkelders Wisseltrofee -ORC Keimoes
2de Beste Prestasie Algeheel
Windmeul Projects Wisseltrofee – ORC Kakamas
Algehele Beste Wyn
Buchus Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes (Wit Muskadel – gehout)
KWV Nominasie (5 wyne genomineer)
KWV Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes
Beste Prestasie op Versterkte Wyn (3 wyne)
Empro Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes
Beste Prestasie op Rooi Onversterkte Wyn (4 wyne)
WarrenChem Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes
Beste Prestasie op Wit Onversterkte Wyn (6 wyne)
Bottlers en Packers Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes
Kampioen Muskaat Versterkte Wyn
Della Toffola Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes (Wit Muskadel – gehout)
Douglas Wisseltrofee – Groblershoop (Wit Jerepiko)
Kampioen Rooi Tafelwyn
Absa Bank Wisseltrofee – ORC Upington (Ruby Cabernet/Shiraz)
Kampioen Natuurlike Soet Witwyn
Omdraai Landgoed Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes (Spesiale laatoes)
Kampioen Droë Wit Tafelwyn
Gys von Wiellingh Wisseltrofee – ORC Upington (Rosé)
Reserwe Kampioen Muskaat Versterkte Wyn
Jacobsdal Wisseltrofee – ORC Kakamas (Wit Muskadel)
Reserwe Kampioen Nie-Muskaat Versterkte Wyn
CJP Chemicals Wisseltrofee – ORC Groblershoop (Rooi Jerepiko)
Reserwe Kampioen Rooi Tafelwyn
Oranjerivier Tenkers Wisseltrofee – ORC Keimoes (Cabernet Franc/Petit Verdot)
Reserwe Kampioen Natuurlike Soet Witwyn
FNB Wisseltrofee – ORC Kakamas (Chenin Blanc/Wit Muskadel)
Reserwe Kampioen Droë Wit Tafelwyn
Hotel Waterwiel Kakamas Wisseltrofee – ORC Kakamas (Chenin Blanc/Morio Muskaat)
Top 100 SA Wine Spot Plus Double Golds for Orange River Cellars
Orange River Cellars from the Northern Cape put in another great performance at a leading South African wine competition, taking a Top 100 spot as well as two Double Gold medals in the Top 100 SA Wines/National Wine Challenge held in Cape Town last week.
The coveted Top 100 slot went to Orange River Cellars’ acclaimed Straw Wine of the 2015 vintage, while the red blend Lyra Vega 2013 and Red Muscadel 2015 won Double Gold medals.
According to Koos Visser, having a wine recognised as one of the Top 100 in South Africa is a tremendous honour for any winery. “Our country has never produced as many wines of such exceptional quality as is currently the case,” says Koos Visser, marketing manager at Orange River Cellars. “With some 8 000 various brands in South Africa alone, to see your wine adjudged among the top 100 is a tremendous achievement for our wineries, our team of viticulturists and the winemakers.”
The Orange River Cellars Straw Wine, a natural-sweet made from air-dried Chenin Blanc grapes, has built-up an enviable reputation having won a Veritas Gold Medal as well as receiving 91 points from the International Wine Review.
Visser said that the National Wine Challenge Double Gold Medals for the Orange River Cellars’ Lyra Vega red blend and Red Muscadel represented a glimpse into the current vision of this Northern Cape winery.
“We have always enjoyed acclaim for our Muscadel wines due to the perfect vineyard conditions for growing Muscat de Frontignan,” he says. “And for a long time Muscadel was deemed as one of the few wines that Orange River Cellars could really excel at. However, the National Wine Challenge Double Gold Award awarded to our Lyra Vega 2013 shows that the situation has changed in the Northern Cape and that we are now able to also produce dry red wines of serious quality.”
The Orange River Cellars Lyra Vega is a blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot, Tannat and Shiraz, all grapes in the blend originating from the Orange River wine region.
“Despite the geographical challenges attached to making premium wine in the Northern Cape, the producers, viticulturists and winemakers have shown in the past few years that they are up to the task.
“And with this wine, the Lyra Vega, they have truly shown what we are capable of as a winemaking unit. To create a blended red wine that shines in front of a team of wine experts who judge at the National Wine Challenge holds great significance for us, and I can assure everyone that the international and national wine markets now see Orange River Cellars in a new light.
Só ’n Wingerdprojek het die SA wynbedryf nog nie gesien
Orange River Cellars, in samewerking met een van sy produsente in die Augbrabies-gebied, is tans besig met ’n wingerprojek soos die Suid-Afrikaanse wynbedryf nog nie gesien het nie.
’n Watertoevoerlyn van 4km. ’n Nuwe dam van 26 000kl. Vestigingskostes wat reeds sowat R25m beloop. ’n Chenin Blanc-wingerd van 100ha; 242 000 stokkies, 64 000 lynpale, 2 150 ankerpale en 950 000m draad.
En dis nie al nie. Behalwe dat hierdie wingerd sowat 4 000t druiwe sal lewer, is hierdie ’n vername swartbemagtigingsprojek (SEB) waarin 50 permanente werkers sowat 55% van die wingerd en sy opbrengs sal besit.
Dit is die omvang van die enorme wyndruifprojek op ’n plaas wat Fritz Oosthuizen in samewerking met Orange River Cellars staanmaak reg langs die Augrabies Nasionale Park. Die werkers en hul gesinne sal in die toekoms voordeel uit die projek trek in die vorm van dividende, en boonop is die doel om die hele wingerd onder die vaandel van Fairtrade-akkreditasie te registreer. Fairtrade is ’n internasionale akkreditasie wat verseker dat die landbouprodukte wat sy stempel dra voortspruitend is uit projekte waar werkers en hul gemeenskappe aan voorbeeldige werkstoestande en waardigheid blootgestel is. Fairtrade-produkte geniet boonop ’n premie, veral in internasionale markte.
Die projek sal vir Oosthuizen in staat stel om 180 huise vir sy werkers en seisoenwerkers te bou, asook ’n dienssenttrum.
Die eerste 50ha is reeds geplant, en sal in die 2017 oes druiwe lewer. Een van die groot voordele is dat hierdie wingerd vroeg in die seisoen geoes kan word, voordat die ander gebiede begin pars. Dit laat Orange River Cellars toe om die wyn uit die kelders te skuif nog voordat die ander areas begin pars, wat aan Orange River Cellars ’n vroeë voorsprong in die mark gee.
Hierdie projek is onlangs aan lede van die wyn- en landboumedia getoon, en almal was dit eens: die wynbedryf het nog nie iets van hierdie aard gesien nie, en bewys dat Suid-Afrika ook daartoe in staat is om op ’n groot skaal in terme van internasionale standaarde te boer.
Crunch matches for Absa Currie Cup Qualifier front runners
First-placed ORC Griquas (16 points) travel to the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, to face the Hino Valke. Leopards (second on 15 points) host third-placed Boland Cavaliers in Potchefstroom. As things stand, it is currently a straight shoot-out between Griquas and Leopards for that vital promotional spot and with just one more round remaining after Saturday’s round of games, neither one can afford a slip up.
Five of the seven sides will play their penultimate fixtures of the qualifying campaign this weekend. Boland Cavaliers and SWD Eagles have both played five matches to date while the rest of the sides have played one less encounter.
Boland complete their schedule on Saturday when they travel to Potch to take on the Leopards, while SWD have a bye.
Leopards moved to within a point of Griquas last weekend thanks to a hard-fought 24-20 win over a resilient Down Touch Griffons in Welkom. While the Potch side are the favourites on their home ground against Boland, they know that nothing but a bonus-point win will keep them in the race. Boland will be no pushovers and last weekend they were deserved winners over the Hino Valke.
Griquas visit second from bottom Hino Valke in Kempton Park and the log leaders, who enjoyed a rest last weekend, should be favourites to add another win to their tally of three from four outings so far.
Down Touch Griffons are rooted at the bottom of the log with one win from four and only five league points to show and they host the Border Bulldogs (fourth) in the remaining Saturday fixture. Border showed good form during the early rounds, however, two successive defeats have shattered their ambitious promotional hopes.
The three final fixtures take place next Saturday (25 July) and the winner of the qualifying round will compete in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, which kicks off on 7 August.
To view the log current log standings and point scorers please click here:
The Absa Currie Cup Qualifier fixtures for Saturday, 18 July are:
Hino Valke vs ORC Griquas
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park, Johannesburg
ORC Griquas too strong for Down Touch Griffons
The ORC Griquas ran rampant in the second half, scoring six tries in 30 minutes, to hammer the Down Touch Griffons 47-20 (halftime 7-6) in their Absa Currie Cup qualifying match at Griquas Park in Kimberley on Saturday.
It was their third win from four matches, and the third time they have approached the 50-point mark, which leaves them comfortably at the top of the log on 16 points, six ahead of the Leopards, who had a bye.
But the ease of the victory was not apparent in the first half. The Griffons set off in sublime form, running at the Griquas at every opportunity with quick hands and neat off-loads until after five minutes of sustained pressure, until they finally gained a penalty in front of the posts and Franna du Toit opened the scoring.
The Griquas were feeding off scraps gathered in broken play, but their handling let them down at crucial points. And all the time the Griffons, superbly led by No 8 and captain Nicky Steyn, kept coming back at them and they were rewarded with another penalty, converted by Du Toit.
A full 34 minutes into the game, it took a moment of magic by Griquas pivot Francois Brummer to turn the tide. He chipped over the flat Griffons defence for centre Jonathan Francke to gather and score under the posts.
The halftime break merely served to rejuvenate the Griquas, for they came out fighting and two tries in five minutes effectively crushed the Griffons’ spirit.
First No 8 Carel Greef peeled away from a penalty line-out and then the nippy No 9 Tian Meyer took a great pass from flank RJ Liebenberg to break through the line. With Prinsloo converting both, they had a healthy lead of 15 points at 21-6.
Then the floodgates opened. Five minutes later another two tries were scored in as many minutes: Wing Ntabeni Dukisa shrugged off series of weak tackles and then Brummer was the beneficiary of a great break by Greeff.
Hugo Kloppers was put through by Prinsloo after tearing down the touchline and then replacement hooker Martin Bezuidenhout was given the scoring pass by Kloppers from a penalty line-out.
Even the scoreline was even a bit skewed: Griquas had scored 47 points without answer, but then allowed the Griffons to boost their total with two breakaway tries.
ORC Griquas: Tries: Jonathan Francke, Carel Greeff, Ntubeni Dukisa, Tian Meyer, Francois Brummer, Hugo Kloppers, Martin Bezuidenhout: Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (6):
Touchdown Griffons: Tries: Vuyo Mbotho, Norman Nelson, Conversions: Wynand Pienaar (2). Penalties: Franna du Toit (2)
Griekwas se bonuspunt-oorwinning teenoor Boland
Die ware Griekwas het Saterdag in Kimberley opgestaan en met ‘n bonuspunt-oorwinning van 48-17 oor die Boland opgeskuif tot die tweede plek op die Eersteliga-punteleer.
Die groot Griekwaheld was die agtsteman Carel Greeff wie vier van die Poubloues se agt drieë gedruk het. Hy het reeds voor rustyd sy driekuns gevier. Die Springbok Riaan Viljoen was ook weer op sy kop en het een van die ander vier drieë gedruk en so ook die veteraan-loskop Steph Roberts.
Greeff het die eerste van sy vier drieë in die derde minuut gedruk en toe die klok vyf minute slaan druk Viljoen sy drie. Greeff het ook in die tiende minuut en kort voor die halfuur-merk gedruk en na 40 minute was die Kwaste 26-3 voor.
Met die vyf punte uit die oorwinning is Griekwas terug in die wedloop om vir die Premierliga te kwalifiseer.
Hul wedstryd eerskomende Saterdag in Potchefstroom teen die Luiperds sal bepaal of die Griekwadroom lewendig gehou sal word en of hulle saam met die kleintjies sal speel.
Griekwas: Drieë: Carel Greeff (4), Jono van Rensburg, Riaan Viljoen, Steph Roberts, Poerie van Rooyen. Doelskoppe: Francois Brummer (4).
Boland: Drieë: Christiaan Rust, Hanno Kitshoff. Doelskoppe: Eric Zana (2). Strafdoel: Zana.
New-look Orange River Cellars Muscadel Plucks Platinum Award
To announce that Orange River Cellars, the Northern Cape’s leading wine cellar, has yet-again excelled with its delicious Muscadel wines is hardly news for wine consumers these days, but this year the producer’s long-running success story has truly reached new heights. In the Muscadel SA Competion, one of South Africa’s most influential fortified wine competitions, Orange Rivers Cellars’ Red Muscadel 2013 was awarded one of only two Platinum Awards made at the event, which was held last week.
This achievement follows hot on the achievements in last year’s Muscadel SA Competition where the cellar’s 2013 White Muscadel was awarded a gold medal.
According to Koos Visser, Orange River Cellars Marketing Manager, a Platinum Award at Muscadel SA represents the pinnacle of achievements on the South African foritified wine scene.
“While it is an immense honour to win the Platinum Award, it is even bigger privilege to have the opportunity to represent our region on such a grand stage, and to see our wines receiving recognition alongside South Africa’s leading wine brands,” he said. “We are doubly pleased as this was the first time Orange River Cellars entered the Muscadel SA Competition under our new packaging. With packaging taken into consideration for Platinum status, it is good to know the rebranded look found favour among the judges.”
According to Visser Orange River Cellars is in the favourable position of making Muscadel wines that also have a loyal following among consumers.
Erge hitte wyk betyds vir parstyd by Orange River Cellars
‘n Paar weke se versengende Noord-Kaapse hitte in Desember verlede jaar en vroeg Januarie ten spyt, het die 2015-druiweoes by Orange River Cellars op skedule afgeskop, met die eerste groot vragte wyndruiwe wat in die tweede helfte van Januarie fluks na die kelders oppad was
Volgens Henning Burger, die bestuurder van wingerdboukundige dienste by Orange River Cellars, veroorsaak die hittige weer, anders as wat dikwels geglo word, nie die vroeë rypwording van druiwe nie.
“Wanneer dit werklik warm word, soos in Desember en Januarie toe die Upington-streek konsekwent temperature in die laat 30ºC’e and vroeë 40ºC’e ervaar het, skakel die wingerdstok eintlik sy groei- en rypwordingsiklus af,” sê Burger. “Dit beteken dat geen fotosintese en geen styging van suikervlakke plaasvind nie. Eers toe die temperature begin afkoel het, vanaf 24 Januarie, het die wingerdstokke weer hul normale groeipatroon hervat en het die suikers begin klim.”
Orange River Cellars oes druiwe vir elk van die maatskappy se vyf produksiefasiliteite wat oor ‘n afstand van 300km langs die Oranjerivier strek. Hierdie kelders is Kakamas, Keimoes, Upington, Groblershoop en Grootdrink, en elkeen is sentraal geleë om druiwe uit die groot wynbou-areas in die streek te ontvang.
“Soos verwag kan word met hierdie hitte is die wingerde en druiwe baie gesond,” sê Burger. “Die boere sien ook uit na beter opbrengste as verlede jaar toe ons baie druifvolume verloor het as gevolg van ryp aan die begin van die groeiseisoen.”
“Hierdie jaar se groeiseisoen – van bot tot korrelset – is gekenmerk deur matige klimaatstoestande sonder enige onverwagse natuurlike uitdagings. Die resultaat blyk ‘n gesonde oes van net oor die 130 000 ton vir die vyf kelders te wees, alhoewel dit nog vroeg in die seisoen is en jy nie die gewig van jou druiwe weeg voor dit in die kelder is nie!”
Burger sê dat die analises goed lyk met pH en suur wat in balans is en druiwe wat baie goeie vruguitdrukking en karakter wys.
“Die kwaliteit van die streek se twee vernaamste druifkultivars – Colombard en Chenin Blanc – word elke jaar net beter, soos verlede jaar se Veritas goue medalje vir die Orange River Cellars Colombard bewys het,” sê hy. “En gegewe die uitstekende Chenin Blanc wat in ons area verbou word, is daar geen rede waarom die Colombard se prestasie nie in die Chenin-kategorie herhaal kan word nie.”
Volgens Burger is Orange River Cellars se posisie as ‘n belangrike Suid-Afrikaanse produsent bekragtig deur die besluit om ‘n verdere 200 hektaar Chenin Blanc in die streek aan te plant, asook die produksie van Muskadel te verhoog met meer aanplantings van Muscat de Frontignan.
“Ons het bekendheid vir Muskadel verwerf, en ek glo werklik dat die toestande hier in die Noord-Kaap ons in staat stel om die beste Muskadel in die land te produseer,” sê hy. “Met die groeiende gewildheid van die Chenin Blanc-kategorie, is Orange River Cellars ook besig om by te dra tot die diverse aanbieding van topgehalte Suid-Afrikaanse Chenin Blanc.”
Burger sê een van die veranderende kenmerke van die Oranjerivier-wynstreek is die aanvaarding deur druiweboere dat oesmasjiene die toekoms is.
“Die uitdaging is dat baie van ons wingerde volgens T-opleistelsels geplant is, wat die gebruik van konvensionele oesmasjiene onmoontlik maak,” sê hy. “Ons het die afgelope tyd egter geëksperimenteer met masjiene uit Australië en hierdie jaar pars twee boere met masjiene wat spesiaal gebou is vir T-opleistelsels. Meganisasie sal nog meer waarde vir ons boere ontsluit en algehele produktiwiteit verhoog.”
“Uiteindelik kom dit egter neer op kwaliteit vrugte en goeie wynmaak, en ons beskik oor albei.”