Eenzaamheid Wines

Eenzaamheid is a 7th generation family farm in Agter-Paarl, South Africa, founded in 1693 – one of the oldest farms in the Western Cape. The name means ‘solitude’ in Dutch, referring to its isolation from Cape Town when named. The farm has been owned by the Briers-Louw family since 1775. Current owner Christo Briers-Louw’s son, Janno Briers-Louw, is a Cape Wine Master (qualified 2016) who returned to revive winemaking after a two-generation break. Janno was named Young Winemaker of the Year in 2016. His dissertation focused on ‘Dryland Viticulture – an Overview of the South African Situation’. The 300-hectare estate is located between Paarl Berg and Paardeberg mountains with gravelly decomposed shale soils producing wines of great expression. All wines come from dryland (non-irrigated) bushvines, giving incredible depth and maturity. The estate is a proud member of the Old Vine Project, with seven generations tending these heritage vines. Wines are handcrafted in open cement fermentation tanks with skins pushed through by hand. No finings added, sulphur levels kept low, wines unfiltered. Small French oak barrels (300L) used for maturation. Wines include award-winning Chenin Blanc (5-star Platter rating), Shiraz, Cinsaut, Pinotage, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut Rosé, Grenache Noir, and red blends (Shiraz-Mourvèdre-Cinsault). The estate also raises sheep and cattle, supplies top wineries with bushvine grapes including Grenache Noir and Malbec. Eenzaamheid offers an events venue with vineyard views, cellar door tastings by appointment, and has international distribution in Belgium, Germany and UK.