South Africa (Bottlary Hills MTB Trails Access Road, Stellenbosch, WC, 7600, South Africa)
Hartenberg is situated in the Stellenbosch region, about 54 km east of Cape Town. It comprises 150 hectares and two thirds are under vine. Based on the north-eastern slopes of the Bottelary Hill Hartenberg enjoys a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cold, wet winters. Vineyards face north, east and west, with varietals planted to take advantage of either the morning or afternoon sun. There is a difference in altitude of some 250 metres between the northern and southern vineyards. South facing vineyards get colder winds from the Atlantic whereas the northern slopes become really hot. This explains the large number of varietals that are planted.
The first settlers to cultivate the virgin land of the estate (now known as Hartenberg) were friends. Cunraad Boin and Christoffel Esterhuizzen who were granted permission to work on 20 ha of the land in 1692. By 1718, he had 10 000 vines on his property and produced four leggers of wine, approx. 2300 litres. The Farm passed through the hands of various owners and in 1948, Hartenberg was bought by Dr. Maurice Finlayson (a well-known Cape Town pathologist) and his wife, Eleanor. Discovering the true potential of the estate, they soon began marketing their wines under the label “Montagne”. Uncompromising and sophisticated, Eleanor Finlayson’s presence is still felt at Hartenberg today. The Eleanor Chardonnay is their top world famous wine nowadays. The Gilbeys were the next owners of the estate, purchasing it from the Finlaysons in 1977. (By the way that was not the Finlaysons end in the wine industry. Granddaughter Caroline is married to Jean Claude Martin with whom she started Creation wines) They eventually released the present Hartenberg range as their flagship brand in 1985. On 1 January 1987, Ken Mackenzie, purchased Hartenberg. He wanted to follow the vision that Eleanor Finlayson had, he wanted to produce extraordinary wines. But he did not only reach this, Hartenberg became as well a home for wine lovers from all over the world. Under the guidance of Ken Mackenzie and then young winemaker Carl Schultz the estate progressed into one of the most acclaimed producers in the Cape. Just a word on Ken Mackenzie - Rhodesian born he ran away from home at the outbreak of WWII to join the British army at the age of 17. He was a tall and lanky guy and because of his long legs he got the nickname the Stork. Despite his height he became a pilot, was shot down, survived returned to Rhodesia and when it became Zimbabwe immigrated to South Africa where he continued to run a conglomerate of companies. His whole life he dressed in Khakis never in a suit. I think he would be very proud to learn that the 2008 vintage of the Stork won best Syrah of the world.
Carl Schultz graduated as Dux student in 1998 from Elsenburg. He joined Hartenberg Estate as a Winemaker in 1994 which became one of the leading wine estates in South Africa. In 1996 Carl was appointed Director of the Estate and invited that year to join the Cape Winemakers Guild. Carl has also previously served as CWG Chairman. Over the past fifteen years at Hartenberg, Carl has worked and travelled widely in Australia, France, Italy, Portugal, the United States and Germany, with the aim of expanding his frame of reference and technical knowledge. With the Shiraz Stork 2008 Hartenberg won the competition Syrah du Monde 2012 in France. For the Merlot 2005 Carl Schultz received the ``Winemaker of the Year`` award. And only recently the Hartenberg Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 won the international trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards in the category Best Bordeaux Varietal. In 2008, Hartenberg produced the premium Cabernet Sauvignon for House of Mandela.
