
Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons
is based on the historic Fredericksburg farm near Simondium. Founded in 1690, the estate lies at the foot of the Simonsberg between Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. Today it is home to the wine cellar, a tasting centre and a restaurant.
The joint venture was established in 1997 through cooperation between South African entrepreneur Dr Anton Rupert and Baron Edmond de Rothschild of France. The partnership was later continued by Anthonij Rupert and Baron Benjamin de Rothschild. Following Anthonij Rupert's death, Johann Rupert and Hanneli Rupert-Koegelenberg assumed responsibility on behalf of the Rupert family.
From the outset, the estate concentrated on just three wines. Two Bordeaux-style red blends are complemented by a Chardonnay. This deliberately limited approach allows vineyards, levels of ripeness, barrels and individual lots to be selected with precision and the final wines to be assembled from numerous coordinated components. French winemaking tradition is combined with modern cellar technology and South African origin.
Rupert & Rothschild Classique is the more approachable of the two red blends. In the 2021 vintage it consisted of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and a small proportion of Malbec. The grapes were hand-harvested, fermented in stainless-steel tanks and then matured for twelve to sixteen months in French oak barrels. The wine combines dark and red fruit with fine spice, supple tannins and balanced structure. The 2021 vintage is designated Wine of Origin Western Cape.
Baron Edmond is the more powerful red wine of the estate and is more strongly geared towards ageing. Named after the co-founder, the Bordeaux blend combined Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in the 2021 vintage. After hand-harvesting and extended skin contact, the wine matured for 18 months in French barriques, slightly more than half of them new. The vintage carries the Wine of Origin Stellenbosch designation and shows dark fruit, firm tannins and notes of spice and oak.
Baroness Nadine is a varietal Chardonnay named after Nadine de Rothschild. The first vintage was released in 1998. For the 2023 vintage, whole grapes were gently pressed and only free-run juice was used. The wine matured for eleven months in 300-litre French oak barrels and large foudres. Citrus fruit, floral notes, restrained oak spice and a fresh mineral structure define the style. This vintage is designated Wine of Origin Cape Coast.
Rupert & Rothschild therefore does not stand for an extensive range, but for three clearly differentiated wines. Classique offers an approachable introduction, Baron Edmond is aimed more at lovers of age-worthy Bordeaux blends, and Baroness Nadine adds a structured Chardonnay to the range. At Vin Africa, Rupert & Rothschild represents a combination of French-influenced style and selected origins from South Africa's Western Cape.




