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

The founder Tim Hamilton Russell went on a search for the southernmost place in South Africa where top climate wines could be vinified from noble grape varieties. In 1975 he found what he was looking for and bought the 170 hectares of undeveloped land.

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

Today Anthony's wife Olive and the two winegrowers Emul Ross and Johan Montgomery stand alongside him.

The Wine Lines

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

• In the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Heaven and Earth Valley), individual, terroir-influenced and incomparable Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are vinified at Grand Cru level by the entire team. The carefully cultivated vines 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 appellation Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The name refers to the protected Southern Right Whale, which appear annually in the storm-protected Walker Bay, 3 kilometres from the vineyards.

Ashbourne

• Founded in 1996, Ashbourne is the third wine line of Hamilton Russell Vineyards. As boutique wines from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the two winegrowers broke new ground. The name goes back to the great-great-grandfather Lord Ashbourne, who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland at the end of the 19th century.