Alheit Vineyards
Chris and Suzaan Alheit, a dedicated husband-and-wife winemaking team, draw inspiration from European traditions to craft exceptional white wines in the Cape. Based at Hemelrand on the Hemel and Aarde Ridge in Walker Bay, they focus on producing wines that combine elegance with power while avoiding excess weight. Their minimalist approach includes whole bunch pressing, natural fermentation in old barrels without new oak, and minimal intervention, eschewing enzymes, sulfur, or added yeast. The wines are aged on the lees for ten months, with fining and filtration applied only when necessary.
Established in 2011, the Alheits manage 21 hectares of dryland bush vines across various terroirs, including Skurfberg, Perdeberg, Bottelary Hills, False Bay, Botrivier, Franschhoek, and their home base at Hemelrand. Each vineyard contributes unique characteristics to their wines, from the bright, concentrated flavors of Perdeberg's granitic soils to the dark, meaty notes from Botrivier's sedimentary soils. The Alheits' dedication to their craft results in finely balanced wines that reflect their unique terroir and minimalist winemaking philosophy.
Philosophy
Alheit Vineyards, founded by Chris and Suzaan Alheit, is dedicated to producing wines that express the integrity of South Africa’s heritage vineyards and unique terroirs. Drawing inspiration from European traditions, their approach focuses on crafting white wines of finesse, clarity, and lasting energy.
The Alheits specialize in old-vine Chenin Blanc and Semillon, sourcing from dry-farmed bush vines across the Western Cape—sites like the granitic soils of Perdeberg, the shale-rich slopes of Bottelary Hills, and the historic quartz-laced vineyard of Franschhoek.
Every parcel is selected for its distinct character and ability to convey place. In the cellar, their philosophy is one of minimal intervention:
-Whole-bunch pressing,
-Natural fermentations in old oak barrels,
-No enzymes, sulphur, or cultured yeast added at crush,
-Wines remain undisturbed on lees for 10 months,-No fining and only minimal filtration when absolutely necessary.
The resulting wines are precise and textural, with restrained power and a strong sense of origin. Alheit Vineyards champions purity over polish, believing that great wine is grown in the vineyard and gently revealed in the cellar.
Their work is a quiet but powerful celebration of South Africa’s viticultural legacy and a vision for its future.
Wines from Alheit Vineyards
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