Almenkerk Wine Estate is a small, family-owned wine estate, situated in the Elgin valley just east of Cape Town, South Africa.
The estate is owned by the Belgian/Dutch van Almenkerk family and run by Natalie and Joris van Almenkerk. Whilst Joris has fun making award-winning wines, Natalie is in charge of sales and marketing, PR and admin. Patriarch, Joep, helps out with sales, frequent wine tastings and as a mentor on the business side.
Almenkerk Sauvignon Blanc 2018
This single-vineyard wine is created to be the ultimate expression of Elgin’s cool climate: Elegant, complex with a core of minerality. A true terroir wine, it o sets the typical green aromas of Sauvignon Blanc with the tropical tones of fully ripened fruit. Extended lees contact broadens the palate.
Cultivar: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Almenkerk Chardonnay 2017
The complex nose leads with citrus, lemontree flower, white peach and fresh coconut complemented with a floral tone that underscores its minerality. The zesty palate is softened by the lees contact, leading to a lingering finish. Typical Elgin cool-climate elegance. This wine will complement fattier and rich fish dishes such as sashimi or prepared, as well as cooked shellfish. It works well with seared foie gras, complex salads and most cheeses.
Cultivar: 100% Chardonnay
Almenkerk Merlot 2015
The Almenkerk Merlot 2014 is upfront fruity, dominated by red fruit & blackcurrants, while supported by an attractive wooding. It has an unmistakable elegance & poise which follows through on the palate. The lingering graphite tannin structure and distinct minerality makes this a prime example of what cool climate Merlots can be like. This Merlot pairs excellently with lighter dishes such as quail, pheasant & pork
Cultivar: 100% Merlot
Almenkerk Syrah 2015
The Almenkerk Syrah has an upfront nose of blackberry & blackcurrant, underbuilt by savoury, meaty characters and a certain elegance that reflect Elgin’s cool climate. Complemented by gentle wooding & earthy and spicy tones. The violet undertones give away its cool climate origin. The palate shows clean fruit, spicy, meaty characters. It has a firm, medium bodied structure with a lingering finish. Syrah pairs excellently with reds meats, reductions sauces and refined stews or can be enjoyed on its own.
Cultivar: 100% Syrah
Almenkerk Noble Late Harvest 2014
Distinct flavours of dried peach, honeysuckle and turkish delight lifted by a freshness on the palate, typical of cool climate Elgin. Pair with Foie Gras, Cheese or Desert
Cultivar: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Late Harvest
Almenkerk Lace Rosé 2019
Aromas of ripe strawberries & watermelon follow through on the palate. This rosé is dry & has a savoury finish which makes it a great partner to salads, lightly spicy dishes and herb-spice based cheeses. This is meant to be a serious rosé, one that shows the proper respect to the category. It is also a throwback to the rosés Joris and Natalie used to drink growing up - the south-of-France style, if you will. Rather than being overly fruity or sweet, this wine is more about texture & food pairing
Cultivar: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Almenkerk Lace Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Lace Sauvignon Blanc is an expression of the riper fruit in the vineyard. The wine is upfront fruity and oral, yet possesses the hallmark features of Elgin’s cool- climate Sauvignon blancs: an elegant structure with zesty and bell pepper notes, supported by a core of minerality. Have as an apéritif, with any fish dishes and try it with cheese.
Cultivar: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Almenkerk Lace Vineyard Selection 2014
Every vintage the winemaker selects the barrels with the best Elgin fruit expression to make this elegant, medium-bodied wine with a lingering finish. A versatile food pairer. Try it served chilled.
Cultivar: Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot