Hamilton Russell Vineyards

Hamilton Russell Vineyards is a South African winery with three wine lines Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Ashbourne and Southern Right. 

One of the southernmost wineries in Africa

Founder Tim Hamilton Russell went in search of the southernmost location in South Africa where top climate wines could be vinified from noble grape varieties. in 1975, he found what he was looking for and purchased the undeveloped 170-hectare property.

in 1991, his son Anthony Hamilton Russell took over the management. Anthony immediately put the focus on the grape varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and registered the Hamilton Russell Vineyards as a winery: His highest credo was and still is to use grapes exclusively from his own vineyards.

Today, Anthony is joined by his wife Olive and two winemakers, Emul Ross and Johan Montgomery.

The wine lines

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

• In the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Heaven-and-Earth Valley), the entire team vinifies individual, terroir-driven and incomparable Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines at Grand Cru level. The very carefully tended vines here stand on stony, clayey slate soils and enjoy being one of the southernmost vineyards in Africa.

Southern Right

• founded in 1994, this wine line specializes in Sauvignon Blanc and Pinotage. The grapes grow on a 448-hectare vineyard in the cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation. The name refers to the protected Southern Right Whale (southern right whale) that appear annually in storm-protected Walker Bay - 3 kilometers from the vineyards.

Ashbourne

• established in 1996, Ashbourne forms Hamilton Russell Vineyards' third wine line. As boutique wines from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the winemaking duo broke new ground with it. The name goes back to the great-great-grandfather Lord Ashbourne, who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland at the end of the 19th century.