A.A. Badenhorst Raaigras Grenache 2024

A.A. Badenhorst Raaigras Grenache

Region: Swartland, Coastal Region, South Africa

Vintage: 2024

Bottle size: 75cl

Grape: Grenache

ABV: 14%

Pale ruby in colour, reflecting both the gentle extraction and the natural character of Grenache. The palate shows grainy, grippy tannins, with a clear expression of the granite soils and a refined, mineral-driven structure.

Raaigras Grenache is sourced from a single bush vine vineyard planted in 1952 on the decomposed granite soils of Kalmoesfontein. With a southeast-facing aspect and covering just 0.86 hectares, this historic site delivers a focused and expressive reflection of the Swartland.

Grapes are hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard, then cooled overnight in a refrigerated room. The following day, the fruit is destemmed and fermented in a conical concrete tank, with daily pump overs to gently extract flavour and structure. Near the end of fermentation, the wine is pressed and transferred to 500-litre barrels, where it matures for 12 months. The wine is racked before bottling without filtration, preserving purity and texture.

Neal Martin describes Adi Badenhorst as someone who “epitomises the carefree spirit that pervades the [Swartland] region”, a phrase that still doesn’t do justice to a man whose personality is as characterful as the wines he makes. Adi founded A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines in the Paardeberg with his cousin Hein in 2008. He is a champion of attentive farming and minimal intervention winemaking to convey an authentic expression of the Swartland in his wines.