Dutch entrepreneurs Marianne and Fons Aaldering began their journey to produce some of South Africa’s finest wines in 2004 when they bought a 27-ha estate in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch. This marked the establishment of Aaldering Vineyards & Wines, a company dedicated to delivering premium wines to wine enthusiasts around the globe.
Marianne and Fons Aaldering aren’t just wine lovers, they’re also foodies at heart. As the brains behind MarFo and Delta Dailyfood, they know that food and wine are the perfect pairing.
When retirement was on the horizon, they found themselves dreaming of enjoying a glass of wine made from grapes grown in their own vineyard. South Africa, a destination long on their travel radar, seemed like the perfect place to turn their dream into a reality. When they discovered Stellenbosch, with its beautiful scenery and microclimate ideal for grape cultivation, they knew they’d found the perfect location to bring their vision to life.
Today, their youngest daughter, Jacqueline, and her husband, Gert-Jan Posthuma, manage the winery. They used to live in Spain but decided to pack their bags and move to South Africa in 2016. Jacqueline is the hospitality and finance manager, while Gert-Jan oversees international sales and marketing.
The team of locals has grown over the past nearly 10 years and is an important part of Aaldering’s success. “We operate as a family and learn from each other’s cultures,” Gert-Jan says. “By embracing diversity, we blend a European perspective with traditional South African values in our company.”
The wine
Situated about 160 m above sea level and just a 20-minute drive from False Bay, the estate benefits from a refreshing breeze that creates ideal climatic conditions.
When Marianne and Fons bought the farm, it already had established vines, including Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. In 2008, they replanted one block with Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, and in 2017, added new blocks of Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot and additional Pinotage bush vines. “This planting was not intended to increase wine production, but rather to enhance the complexity of the Bordeaux blend,” Gert-Jan says.
In its early days, the farm operated as a grape supplier, selling its harvest in bulk. Fons discovered that these grapes were used to craft award-winning wines, which was very encouraging. For the first five years, the focus remained on vineyard maintenance to ensure optimal conditions for the vines.
It wasn’t until 2007 that Fons had reserved enough grapes to produce their own wines. That year they were able to make 15 000 bottles each Pinotage, Shiraz and the Bordeaux blend Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot. To achieve the desired quality, they invested in new French oak barrels to age the wines for nearly two years. By 2009, the perfect bottle and label had been selected, and in 2010, their wines were introduced in the market.
In just 15 years, Aaldering Wines has positioned itself in prestigious wine speciality stores and top-tier restaurants worldwide. The wines are featured on the menus of distinguished one, two and three Michelin-star restaurants. Aaldering Wines can also be found in the first-class sections of American Airlines, All Nippon Airways and Asiana Airlines, and in business class on KLM Airlines. Notably, 95% of their market is overseas, with a significant presence in the Netherlands.
As a boutique winery, Aaldering produces about 180 tons of grapes and about 150 000 bottles of wine annually. “This is a solid business model, especially when combined with our luxury guest house offering,” Gert-Jan says. Aaldering is also the only South African winery that uses the saver glass bottle shape. In 2022, they built a bottle maturation cellar designed to store up to 180 000 bottles.
Winemaker Jaco Parson joined the team as an assistant winemaker in 2016 and has since been promoted to senior winemaker. His philosophy revolves around minimal intervention. “We work with a natural product, so we minimise what we add to the wine and always keep Mother Nature in mind,” he says.
Aaldering is not a certified organic wine producer but works towards sustainability in the vineyards. As one of the 10 most sustainable wineries in South Africa, as certified by Enviro Wines, it’s also among the top IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) accredited producers. “For us, however, it’s not about being certified,” Gert-Jan says. “Our focus is on making the best quality South African wines, while doing our best to preserve nature.”
Innovation and the future
In 2021, Aaldering Vineyards & Wines launched the first edition of the Women of the World Pinotage Rosé. It came in a transparent magnum bottle featuring artwork by Cape Town artist Ley Mboramwe.
Jacqueline and Gert-Jan met Ley at the Cape Town Iziko South African National Gallery. After viewing his artwork, which ranged from contemporary abstract pieces to beautifully detailed kingfishers, they approached him about getting involved in Aaldering’s Women of the World project. He was extremely enthusiastic about the project and offered his services.
Ley’s artwork for the project, featuring a woman, was later transformed into a label. After three editions, the label continued to evolve and last year won Best of Class and Best on Show prizes at the TLMI Printing Excellence Awards.
Aaldering’s journey has often felt like a rollercoaster ride. “It pushes you to think outside the box and go against the tides,” Jacqueline says. As with winemaking, patience is key to creating something special. “Our brand has evolved over the years and after 15 years in the market, we’re only just beginning to be fully recognised. The best is yet to come.”
To explore more articles in our May issue, Woeker met jou wingerd, purchase our digital or print magazine here.
