Ashbourne 'Sandstone'

Wine Story

Ashbourne is a small Pinotage*,* and Sauvignon blanc blend specialist, founded in 1996 by Anthony Hamilton Russell and located on a beautiful 64 hectare property in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley on the eastern border of Hamilton Russell Vineyards.

Ashbourne’s primary aim upon foundation was to create a single, extraordinary Pinotage from a privileged clay and iron-rich site in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, the Ashbourne Pinotage. To many wine lovers, this is their best Pinotage in the world. A particularly classic, cool climate "Old World" expression of the variety, which never fails to confuse tasters on country of origin and grape variety. In effect, it is an entirely new, but truly South African, expression of the Pinotage grape. This wine is styled to last for many years in the cellar. The grapes are sourced from our own vineyard. Very small production makes this a discovery wine and a highly allocated one. Research into the best possible white wine expression of the Sandstone-derived soils on the property led to the creation of the amphora fermented and aged Ashbourne Sandstone blend as a white wine partner - the first amphora fermented and aged wine in South Africa. The emphasis is on bright, refined complexity and palate coverage with a marked minerality and salinity. It is almost an anti overt fruit wine. Sandstone is fermented using both wild vintage yeast and a specially isolated yeast endemic to the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. This blend of Estate-grown Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon is what we believe to be the most beautiful possible expression of our sandstone-derived soils in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. With its tightness and mineral brightness it is stylistically what a white blend from our area should be like. With the tiny production of these wines by design, it was decided that growth should be pursued by adding a highly limited number of original new wines to Ashbourne's portfolio - and to open up the grape supply to the Swartland for these new wines.

Ashbourne is a family name and symbolises the close links to the Hamilton Russell family, both in terms of geographic proximity and quality ethic. The property is named after Anthony’s great, great grandfather Lord Ashbourne who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland in the late 1800’s. 2020 was our 20th vintage.

Small production, innovation, organic farming and a uniquely South African identity, despite strong classical leanings make Ashbourne a proud partner to the innovative and esoteric producers in Frank Matthys’s exceptional portfolio from around the world.