“Wine shouldn’t be a pretentious thing. If people can see ‘Wow, I can fit in with this, nobody is going to ask me a funny question or look at me funny’, then they feel much more at home. That’s how we approach it.”
In 2004, after 10 years as winemaker at Morgenhof Estate, Rianie took on the dual role of GM and winemaker at Haskell Vineyards and Dombeya Wines in the Helderberg where she created award-winning wines for 14 years. Since October 2018, she focused on a lifelong dream and put all her time and energy into her family business, Strydom Family Wines with its focus on small-batch artisan wine.
A graduate of the University of Stellenbosch, Rianie worked a vintage in Burgundy in 1996 and in Saint-Émilion in Bordeaux, France, in 1998 to further her winemaking skills. She has travelled extensively in Europe, America and Australia in her ongoing pursuit of excellence and to gain a greater understanding of terroir and its relationship to great wine. Rianie has judged extensively in various South African wine shows and is passionate about ‘improving the breed’ of South African wine and seeing it achieve its full potential on the world stage. “There is no better time to be part of the South African wine scene than now.”
83% Cabernet Franc, 17% Merlot
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
For three years running, this blend has remained the sole offering of its kind at auction, underscoring its rarity and exclusivity. Bottled from one 300-litre barrel, this wine is crafted exclusively for the CWG auction, emphasizing its limited production. Inspired by a vintage spent in St Emilion, France, during my early winemaking career, I sought to replicate the essence of the Merlot/Cabernet Franc blends prevalent in the region, utilizing varieties I hold in high esteem. With only 240 bottles available, this wine epitomizes scarcity and distinction.
Tasting Notes: The blend of these two varieties makes for a full-bodied wine with a balanced acidity and smooth finish. Cabernet Franc adds red fruit flavour and spice, while Merlot adds black fruit and chocolates.
Ready for drinking 2027 to 2035.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Merlot
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
Tasting Notes: Perfumed, elegant, sweet raspberry and cherry fruit inviting you into a soft powdery tannin palate graced with seductive dark chocolate and a mid-core of chalky notes.
Ready for drinking from 2027.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot
The grapes are grown on the Helderberg mountain on north-facing slopes. Both varieties ripened during February and were harvested during the morning. In the cellar they were rigorously sorted before whole berry fermentation in open fermenters. During the first half of fermentation we pumped over and punched down three times a day and afterwards, only twice a day. After pressing, malolactic fermentation in barrels. Blending was done after 12 months with a further six months maturation before bottling.
Tasting Notes: Perfume, glazed red cherries and fresh raspberries with hints of graphite on the nose. The palate has a soft entry, elegant spicy mid-palate, red fruit power and finishes with a chalky edge.
20 Cases of this wine were sold on the 2020 auction.
Ready for drinking in 2025.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot
Wine of Origin Stellenbosch
The grapes are grown in the Helderberg ward on north facing slopes. Both varieties ripened during February and were harvested during the morning. In the cellar they were rigorously sorted before whole berry fermentation in open fermenters. During the first half of fermentation we pumped over and punched down three times a day and afterwards, only twice. After pressing both did malolactic fermentation in barrels. Blending was done after 12 months. A further six months maturation took place prior to bottling.
Exceptional vintage, precision blending, happy winemaker – The Game Changer 2017.
Tasting Notes: Perfume, glazed red cherries and fresh raspberries with hints of graphite on the nose. The palate has a soft entry, elegant spicy mid-palate, red fruit power and finishes with a chalky edge.
Drink now with decanting, otherwise cellar until 2025.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
The Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot form the core of this wine and the grapes were specially selected within the vineyards and fermented separately. After maturing in French oak barrels for 12 months, the best barrels were blended together and then matured for another 6 months. Prior to bottling, a fresh portion of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc from the 2017 vintage were added to complete the full Bordeaux-style wine.
Tasting notes: This is a well-balanced wine with a soft entry and fresh inner core. The palate shows red and dark fruit flavours, graphite and refined tannins.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
This is a two barrel selection from two spectacular vineyards on the Helderberg. The varieties were harvested separately at the end of February, with cellar practices of four pump-overs and punch-downs during the day with aeration during the first part of fermentation. After 14-17 days total skin maceration, the grapes were pressed and malolactic fermentation was in barrels. The blend was made up six months before bottling and matured as a blend until bottling.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
The Cabernet is selected barrels from two different vineyards and the Syrah is a special vineyard growing on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain. Both varieties were pumped over and punched down 5 times a day in open top fermenters; with a total time of 15 days’ maceration on skins prior to pressing. Malolactic fermentation was in barrel. The Cabernet Sauvignon was matured in new barrels and the Syrah in a 3rd fill barrel. Blending was in June 2014 and bottling December of the same year.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
The grapes were all hand harvested and separately fermented during the cool morning hours. Fermentation was done in open top tanks with pump-overs and punch-down by hand 4 to 5 times during the first half of fermentation and twice a day during the last part of fermentation. Total maturation for 14 to 16 days. Malolactic fermentation was in French oak barrels. After racking off the lees, the wine was further matured for 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels with the balance made up of second and third fill barrels.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
10% of the grapes was whole bunch fermented. Pump overs and punch downs were initially done every 5 hours, but towards the end only twice a day. Malolactic fermentation was in barrels with a total maturation time of 11 months in 30% new barrels. Tasting Notes: The wine has an enticing perfumed nose with spices and dried wild flowers. The palate is medium bodied and velvety soft with exotic flavours of black fruit, spices and mushrooms.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
Made from a 12 year old vineyard that takes a lot of stress in the season. Clever nurturing of the vines over the past couple of years has rewarded us with high quality fruit. The grapes were picked at phenolic ripeness. Fermented at 28 degrees C with pump-overs four times per day. After pressing, malolactic fermentation and maturing in 100% new oak for 16 months before bottling. Tasting Notes: Lovely flavours of cranberries, mulberries and pomegranates. The palate has firm, tight, powdery fruit tannins which balance well with the fruit flavours from the nose and the acidity. The aftertaste is lingering with dark chocolate. Good balance from nose right through to aftertaste.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
All grapes were hand harvested and sorted in cellar before fermentation. 4-5 pump-overs a day with delestage on Merlot at 12 degrees balling. Average maceration on the skins for up to 15 days. This is a special selection from exceptional new barrels in the cellar and bottled to sell at the Guild Auction. Tasting Notes: Vibrant ruby colour, fresh dark fruity nose – plums, black cherries and cassis. Underlying flavour of dark chocolate. Palate very smooth and more-ish. Fruit well balanced with subtle wood flavour, ending lovely and dry.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
The two components were made separately before careful selection for blending. Each one was chosen in order to complement the flavours of the other. The Cabernet Sauvignon had stronger red berry flavours than the classic pencil shaving flavours usually found in Cabernet Sauvignon and the Shiraz was less spicy and stronger on black fruit flavours. Both have a firm tannin structure. Tasting Notes: Plums, dark berries and cinnamon. Balanced fruity palate with cassis and subtle white pepper on the aftertaste. Firm balanced tannins for good aging.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
All grapes were hand harvested and sorted in the cellar before fermentation. Pump-overs took place 4 to 5 times a day with delestage on the Merlot at 12 degreees balling. Average maceration took place on skins for up to 15 days. This is a special selection from exceptional new barrels in the cellar and specially bottled to sell at the Guild Auction. Tasting Notes: Vibrant ruby colour, fresh dark fruity nose – plums, black cherries and cassis. An underlying flavour of dark chocolate. The palate is very smooth and more-ish. The fruit is well balanced with subtle wood flavour which ends lovely and dry. I have a passion for blending and love classic Bordeaux style wines and especially the wines from the Medoc, especially Pauillac.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
Cabernet Sauvignon 51%, Shiraz 49% We harvested all the grapes together for fermentation in an open fermentation tank. Pump-over and punch downs were done 4 times a day with aeration on every second one. The mash was pressed after 15 days and malolactic was completed in stainless steel tank. This is a selection from 100% Francois Frere barrels. Tasting note: Ruby-red colour with purple rim. The nose shows flavours of black cherries, mulberries, chocolate powder and soft hints of liquorice. The palate has a soft entrance with lovely ripe fruit tannins in perfect harmony with the oak nuances. Drink in 2014 and beyond.
Winemaker: Rianie Strydom
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