Waterford Estate
is situated in the Blaauwklippen Valley south of Stellenbosch, against the backdrop of the Helderberg mountains. The 120-hectare estate includes around 50 hectares of vineyards, while roughly 70 hectares are reserved for natural flora and fauna. The winery's architecture is characterised by a Tuscan courtyard, central fountain and a barrel cellar built into the hillside.
The winery was founded by the Ord family in 1998. The name Waterford combines the waterfalls on the property with the Ord family name. Kevin Arnold was the first winemaker and shaped the estate's style from the outset. The first wine produced was the Kevin Arnold Shiraz named after him, which remains one of Waterford's best-known bottlings today.
The vineyards lie on various slopes and include soils of weathered granite, loamy gravel and red clay. Cabernet Sauvignon particularly benefits from the warmer north-facing parcels at around 330 metres above sea level. Sea winds reach the vineyards in the afternoon and moderate the heat, allowing the grapes to ripen without losing all of their natural freshness.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the main focus of the range. Waterford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon shows the structured side of the Helderberg, shaped by dark fruit and firm tannins. Kevin Arnold Shiraz combines ripe fruit with spicy and savoury notes. With Antigo, the estate also produces a softer red blend from a parcel with particularly clay-rich soils.
At the top of the range is The Jem. The red blend was first produced from the 2004 vintage and named after Jeremy Ord, whose nickname is Jem. It combines Cabernet Sauvignon with several French, Italian and Spanish grape varieties. The individual lots are initially vinified separately, brought together during barrel maturation and then further matured as a blend in French oak.
Chardonnay is the only white grape variety grown on the estate itself. A Chardonnay vineyard planted in 1988 now has status under South Africa's Old Vine Project. The white range is complemented by Chenin Blanc from an old Stellenbosch vineyard planted in 1966, as well as Blanc de Blancs Cap Classique, Rosé and the sweet Heatherleigh.
Waterford follows regenerative principles in the vineyard. Cover crops protect the soils from erosion, cattle keep vegetation between the vine rows low and provide material for the estate's own compost. Indigenous plants, beehives, natural beneficial organisms and the restoration of fynbos areas support biodiversity. At Vin Africa, Waterford Estate offers characterful Stellenbosch wines that combine powerful fruit with structure, freshness and the varied landscape of the Helderberg.