2021 · Grenache Blanc

Olifantsberg is a family-run estate on the slopes of Olifantsberg Mountain in the Breedekloof Valley of the Western Cape, owned and operated by Ferdi and Elizma Visser. Elizma, Tim Atkin’s 2021 Young Winemaker of the Year, leads viticulture, while winemaking is a joint effort with Ferdi. The mountain site’s strong winds, cold winters and marked day-night temperature shifts support slow ripening, freshness and elegance. Vineyards are planted on shale, schist, sandstone and clay-rich soils, with high-density eschalas, precision pruning and a minimal-intervention approach. The estate follows a low-impact model, with a solar-powered winery and water-treatment facility, and focuses on expressing its mountain terroir through varieties such as Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Roussanne and Chenin Blanc.