When Rooiberg Winery raised yet another toast to its most significant milestone yet – its 50th anniversary – the team behind the scenes pulled out all the stops to host a truly memorable celebration.  Early November, the directors, management, media and other guests were hosted at this informal but stylish event – where the winery’s first Méthode Cap Classique was revealed to toasting to half a century of growth and value-building.

Honouring both the past and the future of Rooiberg wines, we share some fun facts about the winery, its wines and the people behind the brand.

 

• Situated in the Robertson wine valley, Rooiberg became the first co-operative winery in South Africa to achieve membership status with the Biodiversity and Wine Initiative (BWI) back in 2005.

• Rooiberg is home to the largest chair in Africa. Erected in December 2012, the mammoth red chair has become irresistible for picture-taking by the constant stream of visitors to the Robertson wine valley.

• The gigantic red chair is not the only thing that attracts tourists to the winery. Rooiberg is a popular stop on Route 60 for fresh breads, pastries and croissants. The Bodega de Vinho restaurant serves a range of mouth-watering breakfasts, gourmet sandwiches  and other decadent dishes.

• Rooiberg released its first Methode Cap Classique style wine in 2014 in honour of the estate’s 50th anniversary.

• Today a private company with 29 shareholder members (producers) who operate 20 farms and with exports to several countries, Rooiberg can look back upon an impressive growth spiral and many “red letter days” following the proverbial modest start as producer cellar (co-operative) winery on 14 April 1964, as well as the bold step of own bottled wine marketing in 1980 and company forming in 2012.

• The original processing volume was 4 000 tons, which grew to a peak of 16 500 with the 1995 harvest and nowadays average 15 000 tons. Of this, 12 500 tons are supplied by the cellar’s own shareholders, while the balance of 2 500 tons is bought in or handled under contract for other parties.

• According to chief executive Johan du Preez, about 1.4 million litres (16.5%) of the total own table wine production of 8.4 million litres are bottled and the rest sold in bulk. Of the bottled wine component, 36% is exported and 64% sold on the domestic market – a significant portion of which through the Woolworths retail outlets.

• Altogether 67% of the bulk wine portion of 7 million litres is exported. This according to strict quality control standards by both the winery and its trade partners.
• The emphasis on quality production has yielded increasing accolades such as Pinotage Top 10 listings in 1997, 2003 and 2012. In 1996 Rooiberg was actually the first producer-cellar to be awarded six double gold medals at the Veritas Awards in one year.

In celebration of the winery’s 50th anniversary, we raise a glass to the pocket-friendly wines, quality grape growers, skilful winemakers and the all round winelands experience Rooiberg Winery has created for tourists to the Robertson wine region.