| In 1994, Anthony Hamilton-Russell founded Southern Right
Cellars as a Pinotage specialist, convinced that Pinotage has
the intrinsic qualities to produce truly world-class wine with
a distinct South African expression and typicity. As an early
ripening grape, it is Anthony’s belief that Pinotage will perform
best in cooler, maritime areas, where a longer, slower
ripening season will afford fully developed tannins and a
greater fruit complexity.
In partnership with winemaker Kevin Grant, the team initiated
plantings on four carefully chosen, clay rich sites in the
cool, maritime Walker bay appellation. Following in-depth
soil research on Hamilton-Russell vineyards, Anthony and
Kevin were able to discern that the most site-expressive and
complex wines will be produced off of the stony, clay-rich
Bokkeveld shale soils in the area. In 1998, a 113 hectare
farm in the beautiful Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus,
was purchased as a central home for the Southern Right Cellar.
The first Southern Right Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc were
released in 1995. Plans over the long term are to produce
up to 10,000 cases each of Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc.
The focus of Southern Right Cellars will always be to achieve
the highest possible degree of quality, individuality and site
expression. |
