Stellenbosch
Radford Dale
Radford Dale Vinum Grenache
RedcurrantPerfumed FruitPomegranateSilky Structure
Details
Variety
Grenache Noir
Style
Red
Region
Stellenbosch
Appellation
Elgin
Producer
Radford Dale
Country
South Africa
Trade Materials
The Inspiration
This story began with a long-held ambition to plant Grenache on the Helderberg farm. After years of deliberation, Radford Dale finally secured the opportunity, and this young single vineyard is already showing exciting promise. It is still early in the vineyard's story, but the team sees it as part of a growing future for coastal Stellenbosch Grenache. Coastal meaning there is a 4 mile influence from the Atlantic Ocean in False Bay.
The vines are rooted in Koffieklip soils translating to "coffee stone," a local term for iron-rich, weathered gravel and stone with a distinctive ground coffee-bean appearance. Think of it as a mineral-rich South African soil that naturally encourages the vines to work harder and helps give the wine its sense of place.
In the cellar, some carbonic maceration alongside gentle extraction helps preserve Grenache's perfume, juiciness and freshness rather than pushing the wine toward weight or heaviness. Red fruit leads the profile, with firm yet silky tannins and a lingering pomegranate character.
It sits naturally within the Vinum philosophy: minimal intervention, purity of fruit and elegance, allowing both this young vineyard and an emerging Stellenbosch Grenache identity to take center stage. The Vinum material similarly highlights the wine's purity, freshness and restrained expression. The range also reflects their sustainability focus, with Vinum wines bottled in lightweight 396g glass and recyclable screw caps.
About Radford Dale
All About Individuality
"All About Individuality" defines Radford Dale. Founder Alex Dale arrived in South Africa from Burgundy in 1994, bringing a deep understanding of French wine tradition, but an equally strong belief in South Africa's ability to forge its own identity in the new South Africa. Since co-founding Radford Dale in 1998, that balance of classical expertise, independent thinking and distinctly South African expression has shaped the wines to become a benchmark of its own.
People are at the core of Radford Dale with a strong female team, international expertise and impactful upliftment in the communities they work in. Winemaker Petroné Thomas leads a talented cellar team, working with a light touch and a holistic philosophy that connects vineyard, cellar, people and place. Organic and regenerative farming, minimal-intervention winemaking and a willingness to challenge convention result in wines defined by freshness, elegance and individuality.
Being a co-founder of the Certified Organic Wines of South Africa, sustainability has an encompassed meaning for them that runs much deeper than just farming. Radford Dale's Sustainability Charter encompasses environmental responsibility, ethical employment and traceable social impact such as the Land of Hope Education Trust which directs 50% of profit from its namesake range towards education for employees and their dependants.
Their wines are proudly site-driven, unmanipulated and balanced - because they believe that South African wines should reflect their natural environment, vintage and distinct terroirs. Made using natural yeast fermentations, low or no adjustments, minimal usage of new oak resulting in restrained alcohols and healthy natural acidities, both hallmarks of elegant and refreshing wines, with balance the ultimate purpose.
From their long-standing focus on Chenin Blanc to exploring Gamay's impressive potential in Stellenbosch and Elgin, Radford Dale continues to push South African wine forward with passion, contagious energy and undeniable South African spirit.
