“We put everything into all of our wines as we have put everything into this property and into the vineyards.”
Andre Adriaan (aka Adi) grew up in the Constantia valley between the vineyards. After completing his studies at Elsenburg, Adi worked a few harvests in France and New Zealand, and did stints at local cellars Simonsig, Steenberg, Groote Post and nine years as winemaker at Rustenberg Wines.
In 2008, he packed it all in and bought a 60-hectare piece of land in the Paardeberg with his cousin Hein, who was also born and bred in the Constantia valley. They now proudly farm together as owners of A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines where they practice ‘baie’-dynamic farming and make wines in a traditional manner. And a family business it sure is; wife Cornelia’s unadulterated creativity is noticeable in every photogenic corner on the property; his mom Judy lives on the neighbouring property and can often be found in the veggie gardens or kitchen; in 2018 his brother Charl and wife Semma joined the team, taking the accommodation and events on the farm to a next level; Cornelia’s brother Hannes is the farm’s Mr Fixit and her cousin Helena has worked with them on the ‘marketing and web stuff’ since 2010.
Over the years, the team at Kalmoesfontein also started to try their hands at new ventures such as a Cape Vermouth, Caperitif; a handcrafted tonic water, Swaan; Mezcal made from Karoo Agave and growing Swartland capers. Every vintage Adi seeks out and nurtures another ‘three golden tears’ vineyard to bottle under the Single Vineyard label while also planting new vines on almost every available slope on the ever-expanding property. Adi Badenhorst is a founding member of the Swartland Revolution and Swartland Independent, proud dad to Samuel Sunnyskies and Ana Kalander, and an ever-evolving vigneron.
Fermented in concrete tanks
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
The Love Boat wines are ‘gut feel’ wines, there is no blending or planning involved. Duncan doesn’t know what Adi did and Adi doesn’t know what Duncan did but together the wines just work.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
The Love Boat wines are ‘gut feel’ wines, there is no blending or planning involved. Duncan doesn’t know what Adi did and Adi doesn’t know what Duncan did but together the wines just work.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Muscat de Frontignan also known as Wit Muskadel (South Africa), Muscat Blanc á Petits Grains, Muscat Blanc, and Muscat Canelli in the USA. The grapes are from old vines grown in the alluvial and sandstone soils of Moutonshoek Valley. Whole cluster fermentation, where after the wine was matured in an old cask for one and a half years before it was bottled. There is a sediment as the wine was not filtered, nor did it have the life fined out of it, neither has sulphur been added.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Marsanne and Grenache Blanc grapes, fermented together in a 300 litre cask. Aged for 14 months on all the good lees before bottling.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Chenin Blanc grapes, whole bunch pressed and fermented naturally in old Foudres. Tasting Notes: Full textured, great length with white fruits and subtle spice notes.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Whole bunch fermentation and filled to an old cask. Tasting Notes: Light dry red with red fruits and dry mineral finish.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Whole bunch fermented in concrete tank. Matured in old casks for 15 months. Tasting Notes: Classic Swartland granite characters of spice and pure fruit notes. Medium bodied with chalky tannins and mineral finish.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Picked in February. Whole bunch pressed directly to cask. No settling. Bottled after 11 months. Tasting Notes: Grown by WP Mostert, Weltevrede. Made, matured and bottled on Kalmoesfontein, Paardeberg.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Whole bunch fermented in open fermenters. Matured in a third fill 500 litre cask for 11 months. Tasting Notes: Typical varietal notes of red fruit and perfume. Medium bodied and mineral.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Whole bunch fermented in open fermenters. Matured in a third fill 500 litre cask for 11 months. Tasting Notes: Typical varietal notes of red fruit and perfume. Medium bodied and mineral.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
The grapes were co-fermented together naturally. Traditional extraction methods were used during the fermentation, followed by a long extended maceration on the skins. The wine was matured in a cask for 36 months before being bottled without filtration. Tasting note: Full bodied, complex, with excellent age-ability.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Botrytised grapes were harvested from unirrigated Semillon vines and pressed into a wooden cask for fermentation. The fermentation was very lengthy and took 18 months to stop naturally. The sugar content was extremely high and the yeasts only managed to ferment out at 8.68 vol%. The wine spent 24 months in cask before being filtered and bottled in 375ml and 750ml bottles. Tasting note: This wine has wonderful golden hues; aromas typical of noble late harvest – marmalade, dried peaches, apricots and ginger. The palate is generous in flavour and texture with a long, mouth coating finish.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Botrytised grapes were harvested from unirrigated Semillon vines and pressed into a wooden cask for fermentation. The fermentation was very lengthy and took 18 months to stop naturally. The sugar content was extremely high and the yeasts only managed to ferment out at 8.68 vol%. The wine spent 24 months in cask before being filtered and bottled in 375ml and 750ml bottles. Tasting note: This wine has wonderful golden hues; aromas typical of noble late harvest – marmalade, dried peaches, apricots and ginger. The palate is generous in flavour and texture with a long, mouth coating finish.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
Winemaking Notes Wonderful, fully botrytised grapes were meticulously hand picked during four passes starting late March and finishing early April 2008. The grapes were basked pressed and the little juice collected was placed into a small French oak cask for natural fermentation. Tasting Notes Very typical varietal and botrytis characters are prominent on the nose as well as bright fruit characters of dried fruits and marmalade and spice. The palate is wonderfully balanced with fruit and vinous texture being the hallmarks of this wine. All indications are in keeping with our philosophy this wine is unfiltered and unfined to preserve the essence of the grape and vineyard.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
The grapes were co-fermented together naturally. Traditional extraction methods were used during the fermentation, followed by a long extended maceration on skins. The wine was matured in a small cask for 36 months before bottling without filtration. Tasting note: Full bodied, complex, with excellent age-ability.
Winemaker: Adi Badenhorst
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