They are committed to the integrated production of wine through:
1. Being a proud WWF Conservation Champion farm.
2. Capturing terroir by planting each grape variety in the most suitable soil and location.
3. Keeping use of insecticides, weed killers and fertiliser to a minimum.
4. Ensuring farming is ethical, including playing a significant role in the upliftment of the community.
Their Story
Gabriëlskloof is the realisation of a dream for South African Bernhard Heyns, who searched for several years to find the unique piece of land that would 'root him to the spot'.
Local farmer Barry Anderson had heard about Bernhard’s mission and arranged to meet him on a windy summer’s day in 2001 at a farm called "Avontuur" on the outskirts of Botrivier. Both immediately recognised the potential of this piece of land (at the time covered with wheat and canola, and home to a few wandering sheep) and soon after, Bernhard bought what is today Gabriëlskloof.
VINEYARD
The Gabriëlskloof site was chosen for its potential to make high-quality wines with a distinctive character. Their soils do not allow for high yields, and we will never be able to produce high volume mass market wines. All the vineyards on the property were planted using the best available material and have been tended to with the utmost care since day one. All vineyard work is done by hand and sustainability takes precedence in every decision made in the vineyard, as is reflected by their status as a Biodiversity and Wine Champion.
Their winemaking philosophy is minimal intervention: only taking action where absolutely necessary. They believe this is the only way to give prominence to and reflect the terroir of the vineyards. Use of new oak is also kept to a minimum, and when we do, we use only the lightest toast available and finest grain French oak.
They have three wine ranges - The Estate Range, where offers wines of exceptional value and approachability, The Landscape series of wines to showcase their best vineyards along with some of South Africa’s top old vineyard sites, and the Reserve range - a special collection of limited edition/vintage specific wines.
