The People
Nico Grobler is a 15 years’ experience viticulturist and award-winning winemaker who made a name for himself at Eikendal in Stellenbosh. After many visits to Burgundy, he fell in love with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir through a close friend and winemaker Bruno Lorenzon in Mercurey. He has now settled in the Elgin Valley that benefits from a cool climate, ideal for growing classic Burgundian grape varieties. Helped by his wife Christelle, an economist by trade, Nico has created an exclusive range of wine that is built upon many small complexities to produce something truly intricate.
The Vineyard
Located 70km from Cape Town, Elgin Valley is in an inland plateau (260-500m above the sea) surrounded by Mountains. The vines are young (9-15 years old) and lie on sandstone and shale soils. His site is the highest elevated Chardonnay vineyards in South Africa while his Pinot Noir are sourced from the highest density vineyards at 10 000 vines per hectare using five selected clones.
Each block of vineyard has its own unique approach to allow the vine the best opportunity to show the profile of the land in its fruit. I also believe that the land should accept the vines, they need to become one with the terroir they are planted in.
Nico Grobler
The Wine
Following minimal intervention and using traditional Burgundian winemaking methods, Nico produces two labels: La Brune are terroir-driven while The Valley offers fresh, pure and fruit driven wines.
White
The Valley Sauvignon Blanc
The Valley Chardonnay
La Brune Chardonnay
Red
The Valley Pinot Noir
La Brune Pinot Noir