Bosman Family Vineyards – Eight Generations of Winemaking in Wellington

Chenin Blanc from Wellington, Pinot Noir from Upper Hemel-en-Aarde

Bosman Family Vineyards is a family business with eight generations of winemaking in Wellington behind it. After decades in which the nursery was the focus, the family has been making its own wines again since 2007, above all the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc from vines planted in 1952. In Upper Hemel-en-Aarde, where the family has owned a second farm since 2000, the Pinot Noir grows, and Nero d'Avola arrived at the Cape as a cutting from Sicily in 2004.

Discover the wines of Bosman with us and browse from Chenin Blanc to Pinot Noir through the range. Here you can buy Bosman Family Vineyards wine, from the Generation 8 range and the Adama White Blend to the Twyfeling Cinsaut and the Nero Rosé.

Learn more about Bosman Family Vineyards

Vineyard Bosman Family Vineyards

Eight Generations at Lelienfontein

The family's roots at the Cape go back to 1707, when Hermanus Lambertus Bosman came to South Africa.[3][4] His grandson Pieter Bosman farmed the Lelienfontein estate near Wellington from 1798.[1][4] Today the eighth generation already works on the estate.[2][3][4] In the mid-1950s the family stopped making wine and concentrated on a nursery for grafted vines.[1][2][3] In 2007 Petrus Bosman returned to winemaking and bottled the first wines in the renovated cellar.[1][2][3] He runs the company as Managing Director.[2]

Nursery, Workforce and Responsibility

The company's nursery supplies grafted vines to wine estates across South Africa.[3][4] Around 260 permanent employees hold a 26 percent stake in the company, which Wine Anorak describes as the largest land reform transaction in the South African wine industry.[1][2] The estate has been Fairtrade certified since 2009.[1][2] According to Cape Town Magazine, the estate has, among other things, a crèche, a music school and a library.[4] The family sees sustainability and social responsibility as the core of what it does.[4]

Old Vines, Granite and Fresh Wines

The Optenhorst Chenin Blanc comes from vines planted in 1952.[2][4] The Adama White Blend combines Chenin Blanc from 42-year-old vines with Grenache Blanc, which grows on granitic soils.[2] The Twyfeling Cinsault comes from Wellington.[2] According to Wine Anorak, the winemaker is Corlea Fourie.[2] The author describes the whites as fresh and textured, and the reds from Grenache, Cinsault and Pinot Noir as light and juicy.[2]

Sicily and Hemel-en-Aarde

The family introduced Nero d'Avola in 2004 with cuttings from Sicily; the variety was approved in 2014, and the first certified bottling followed in 2015.[1][2] The vines were grafted onto Cabernet Sauvignon rootstocks.[1] In 2000 the family also bought a farm in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus.[2][5] Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc come from there.[2][5] In Wine Anorak's tasting, the Pinot Noir stood out with an alcohol content of 13 percent.[2] Alongside the wines from Wellington, this adds a second, cooler line.

Vineyard facts

Year of established:

1699

Address:

Hexberg Road Wellington, 7655

Geo data address:

-33.625342, 19.024475

Acreage:

335 ha

Our recommendation:

Optenhorst Chenin Blanc

Why you should visit:

Enjoy personalised wine tastings at two unique locations – the historic Wellington estate or the panoramic Hermanus venue
Relax with cheese platters, bitterballen or tapas-style dishes, from the shady gardens in Wellington to private retreat spaces with panoramic views in Hermanus
Family-friendly estates with spacious lawns, plenty of room for children to explore and warm Cape hospitality
Hiking trails, indigenous fynbos and spectacular scenery make Bosman Family Vineyards a memorable destination in both Wellington and Hermanus

Phone:

+27 (0) 21 8733170

Vineyard website:

https://bosmanwines.com/

Frequently Asked Questions about Bosman Family Vineyards

Where is Bosman Family Vineyards located?

The home estate, Lelienfontein, lies near Wellington in the Cape Winelands, about an hour from Cape Town.[3] A second farm in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley near Hermanus belongs to it.[2][5]

Since when has Bosman Family Vineyards existed?

The family has farmed the estate since 1798 and is now in its eighth generation.[2][4] Winemaking rested from the mid-1950s and resumed in 2007.[1][2][3]

Who makes the wines?

Petrus Bosman is the owner and Managing Director.[2] According to Wine Anorak, the winemaker is Corlea Fourie.[2]

What is special about the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc?

It comes from vines planted in 1952.[2][4] Fermentation takes place in older barrels.[2]

What is special about the Nero d'Avola?

The family introduced the variety in 2004 with cuttings from Sicily.[2] The first certified bottling followed in 2015.[1]

What does the workforce's stake mean?

Around 260 permanent employees hold a 26 percent stake in the company.[1][2] The estate has been Fairtrade certified since 2009.[1][2]

Which wines come from Wellington and which from Upper Hemel-en-Aarde?

From Wellington come, among others, the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc, the Generation 8 Chenin Blanc and the Twyfeling Cinsaut.[5] Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc come from Upper Hemel-en-Aarde.[2][5]

Where can I buy Bosman Family Vineyards wine?

In our range you will find the Optenhorst Chenin Blanc, the Adama White Blend, the Twyfeling Cinsaut, the Nero Rosé and the Generation 8 wines from Wellington. There are also Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from Upper Hemel-en-Aarde.