Early years….

An ancient vineyard….

Evidence exists that Arumdale had some small portion of vineyard was once planted on a North-west facing slope as far back as the 1920’s, and the ever-present rootstock’s wild growth would constantly have to be removed from amongst the apple trees in that vicinity. One would suspect that the first vines would be established with a trickling stream nearby.

It is unlikely that any wine made then would have been seen as important, other than for home consumption!

With the ancient history of the past at Arumdale, it is interesting to note that Mark Simpson’s family links back via the year 1688, when the brothers, Jean and Gabriel le Roux, arrived at the Cape, having fled from persecution in their own native, and beloved France.

These brothers hailed from the town of Blois, on the banks of the famous and beautiful Loire River. They, in their day, were sure to have carried the ancient tradition of wine in their hearts. As they eventually set about the establishment of farms in the region of Paarl, (at the behest of Simon van der Stel), they had no notion that one day the farms that were established then, would so long endure! These farms included “La Concorde”, where the K.W.V. is located, and “Parys”.  

Today, Arumdale beautifully cool and good apple country, has been selecting orchards for removal, for the careful transfer into first rated vineyards. Today there are scarcely 10 hectares devoted to vineyard production, making the ARUMDALE wines reasonably rare, and sought after, for the present.

S O I L  to  V I N E Y A R D  to W I N E….

Arumdale, with its loamy 800mm-deep soils, in one of the coolest, and most ideally sloped sites of the ELGIN Valley initiated it’s wine-grape planting in 2000, this was the first vineyard of Shiraz in the Elgin valley.. Since then specially chosen ground has been planted to the fine cultivars of Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

First cropping was in 2003. The initial 4 vintages were made in the famed Thelema cellar, and have achieved recognition for, and in, the Elgin region. (Thelema, encouraged by the quality of vineyard production in Elgin, have since established a fine vineyard neighbouring Arumdale lands)   

Mark Simpson now produces a top-rated Sauvignon Blanc, and his softly delicate Pink Shiraz, along with the French Oak matured Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The flagship of the range is the specially made, sophisticated and acclaimed “St Andrew’s Blend”. Winemaker, Franz Blomendahl, has a great deal of pride in producing these fine works of wine-art.

The Arumdale collection have given confirmed meaning to ‘soft and gentle with a smooth and plump fruitiness’. Our critics have  referred to “the finest of reds”, and “such a different feel”.

SO WHAT MAKES US SO DIFFERENT?

 Through minimum artificial intervention in both the vineyard and in the cellar, Mark Simpson allows the wines to “feel”, and “taste”, the Bokkeveld –Shale soil-type in the midst of the really cool climatic conditions. The harvest of low kilograms per vine, is un-hurried, whilst allowance is made for the true, time-enhanced, phenolic* ripening of the grape bunches.

It is key to observe that the reds are harvested 4-5 weeks after the equinox, where cool nights are of substantially longer duration than days. Towards the end of April, where the morning temperature is rarely above a cool 10 deg C, the bunches display their deepest colour and the vine leaves change shade and prepare to drop. The vines must complete their mission, to completely ripen the grapes. The fullest concentration of flavour us always of prime importance for Arumdale wines.

*PHENOLIC RIPENING: How does one best explain??