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TMV White 2008/Woolworths TMV Spectrum 2008 awarded 5 stars by Platters Guide 2010.  Go to other press coverage.

The Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards Philosophy

Sustainable Viticulture

Traditional Winemaking

Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards philosophy is total uncompromising quality and minimal intervention in both the vineyard and the cellar.

The aim is to create exceptional wine in small quantities that gains its character from the environment of the vineyard, the soil, the climate and the growing conditions.

As in many top quality vineyards the vines are grown strictly to organic principals because we believe that is the only way the vines can truly reflect the character of the soil.  Only yeasts naturally occurring in the vineyard are used in fermentation. There is no yeast inoculation.  

The farm is isolated and therefore ideal for organic farming.  There is an almost constant dry wind keeping disease pressure low.  The vineyard is between 400m and 500m elevation and being high up on the mountainside it is cooler than the valley floor.  This allows for greater phenolic ripeness while sugar levels are still moderate.

The cellar is located within the actual vineyard and was designed to allow small batch fermentation and hand pigeage, as well as the greatest possible gravity flow.  The maturation cellar is split into three separate humidity and temperature controlled areas.  The wine is matured over a 2 year period in 100% French oak barrels.  No filtration or fining takes place.  There is minimal use of sulphur and no addition of acid or chemicals.

In every aspect of the viticulture, vinification and elevation of the wine there is no compromise. 

The Team

The owners are the Austin Family and the Scott Family. George and Vanessa Austin are based in Europe while Jennifer and Jason Scott are based in Asia. 

The current winegrowers are Rebecca Tanner and Paul Nichols.  They are a hugely experienced pair and have spent the past ten years gathering experience in many top vineyards around the world including the likes of Lakes Folly, Moss Brothers and Cullen.  While making great wine is what gets them up in the morning we are delighted to report that their committment to all things organic and sustainable is perhaps even stronger than that of the tree hugging owners of TMV.

With Rebecca acting as a Biodynamic consultant to South African wineries for the past few years we look forward to moving beyond our organic regime and exploring new opportunities to achieve holistic balance over the whole farm.  Both Rebecca and Paul are also currently undertaking their Master of Philosophy in Sustainable Development (Sustainable Agriculture) at Stellenbosch University.  We are fortunate to have such a resource of both practical and academic knowledge in a field we feel passionate about - sustainability.