Hamilton Russell Vineyards

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

One of the southernmost wineries in Africa

The founder Tim Hamilton Russell set out in search of the southernmost place in South Africa where top climate wines from noble grape varieties could be vinified. In 1975 he found it and bought the undeveloped 170-hectare property.

In 1991 his son Anthony Hamilton Russell took over the management. Anthony immediately focused on the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties and registered Hamilton Russell Vineyards as a wine estate: from the beginning and to this day, his highest credo has been to use exclusively grapes from his own vineyards.

Today, at Anthony’s side are his wife Olive and the two winemakers Emul Ross and Johan Montgomery.

The wine ranges

Hamilton Russell Vineyards

• In the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (Heaven-and-Earth Valley), the entire team vinifies distinctive, terroir-driven and incomparable Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines at Grand Cru level. The very carefully tended vines grow here on stony, clay-rich shale soils and enjoy being among the southernmost vineyards in Africa.

Southern Right

• Founded in 1994, this wine range 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 appears every year in the storm-sheltered Walker Bay – 3 kilometers from the vineyards.

Ashbourne

• Founded in 1996, Ashbourne forms the third wine range of Hamilton Russell Vineyards. As boutique wines from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the winemaker couple thus struck out on new paths. The name goes back to the great-great-grandfather Lord Ashbourne, who was Lord Chancellor of Ireland at the end of the 19th century.