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preserving south africa's vineyards
A message from rosa
Chairperson of the Old VIne Project
A message from rosa
Chairman of the Old VIne Project
The Old Vine Project wants to preserve as many old vines in South Africa as possible. We believe that many of the 5 417 hectares of old vines could make wine with a special character and purity. We believe that older vines bring another dimension, a new character that tells a story of our land, our culture and our history.
Old vines make wines that reflect the earth and the terroir they grow in. They reflect the scorching summers and the long icy cold rainy Cape winter days they have endured over decades. They exist because of the people who touched and tended them over many years. Old vines and the wines they make are a monument to the farmer’s love of his or her land. Old vines often reflect the lives and the culture of the people and are often preserved by sentiment rather than budgets.
We want to create a culture of caring for vines at all ages, from young to old. The chance of vines getting old is so much better if you care for them properly in their youth. We want young vines to be able to grow old and not suffer from viruses or diseases, or sudden death in their youth.
I started travelling overseas 24 years ago and after seeing many old vines in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Argentina, and tasting the unique character of these wines, I asked one question: “Where are the old vines in South Africa?” The search started in 2002.
The list was slowly recorded during many hours of driving, and lots of beautiful tales of history and culture, of families and seasons. In 2014, SAWIS agreed to release the list of vines older than 35 years. In 2018 the Old Vine Project launched the Certified Heritage Vineyards seal that members can place on bottles of wine made from vineyards of 35 years or older, together with the planting date.
Do old vines make better wine? I believe they very often do. Age in vines brings an intensity, a perceived freshness, a texture and a sense of place. They show less fresh fruit and varietal character, and more terroir and soil. They remind me of our land.
Let’s preserve the old vines of this country and the many wonderful wines that could be made from them.
Our Purpose
The Old Vine Project is a non-profit company that certifies the plant dates of vineyards that are 35 years and older.
Our goals are:
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To educate producers, winemakers. farmworkers, and viticulturists of the inherent potential of old vines to produce brilliant wines.
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To build the Old Vine category in South Africa and abroad with media producers, trade, and consumers alike by demonstrating the benefits of preserving vineyards that are 35 years and older.
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To encourage the use of and recognition of the Certified Heritage Vineyards seal on old vine wines.
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To demonstrate a sustainable pricing model for farmers using old vines as a basis for growth.
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To deliver educational programmes that provide practical knowledge such as old vine pruning course with our partner FELCO Africa, and build category knowledge with the support of Imvini Wethu via the Old Vine Academy.
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To encourage producers and viticulturists to plant clean, virus-free vines to help us make better wines in the future.
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To encourage producers to farm as close to nature as possible.
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To contribute to scientific research via our own sponsored research or that of our members.
Our Timeline
The search for South African old vines begins
After seeing many old vines in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Argentina, and tasting the unique character of these wines, vineyard manager Rosa Kruger asks the question: 'Where are the old vines in South Africa?' Rosa then, with a select few viticulturists, starts scouting for South African old vines. At this stage, select producers including Boekenhoutskloof, Ken Forrester and Irina van der Holt were making wines from old vines.
2002
The word has spread
Producers hear about Rosa's quest, and start contacting her about old vines they have encountered. Eben Sadie releases the internationally acclaimed Old Vineyard Series in 2006, while more winemakers, including Chris Alheit of Alheit Vineyards, Ian Naudé from Naudé Family Wines and The Mullineuxs of Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines join the old vine movement. At the same time L'Ormarins Wines starts making wines under Cape of Good Hope Wines.
2005
Old Vine Seminar for the Institute of Masters of Wine
Cathy van Zyl MW invites Rosa Kruger to present an old vine seminar old vines' seminar organised by the Institute of Masters of Wine as part of their 60th-anniversary celebrations. Jancis Robinson MW writes an article for the Financial Times and shines a light on South African old vines.
2013
Old vines go online with
'I am Old' website
Rosa Kruger launches the first ever website to catalogue old vineyards. Jancis Robinson MW asks for a list of the old vines in South Africa to use on her international database. Journalists from all over the world start tasting wines from old vines in South Africa and report about their unique character. The list is produced after years of scouting by Rosa, other viticulturists, growers, farm workers, and even members of the public. Various correspondence between Julia Harding and Rosa support the quest to produce the first lists. Subsequently SAWIS , with the support of Yvette van der Merwe, releases the full list of old vines in South Africa.
2014
Founding of the Old Vine Project
Rosa Kruger formally launches the Old Vine Project with seed funding from the Rupert Foundation, with the mandate to save and preserve South African vineyards. Johannes van Niekerk, Eben van Wyk and John-Loftie Eaton were the founding directors alongside Rosa. André Morgenthal becomes the Project Manager. Nadia Hefer joins the Old Vine Project in 2018.
2016
International exposure
Wines of South Africa (WOSA) continues to be a valuable supporter of the OVP, and WOSA UK in 2017 is the first to see the value in presenting a formal South African old vine wine tasting in London. Since then numerous collaborations with the local and international offices help to elevate the image of the OVP along with the image of South African wines.
2017
Launch of the Certified Heritage Vineyards seal
As a world-first, the Certified Heritage Vineyard seal certifies that the wine is made from vineyards 35 years and older. The planting date is reflected on the seal, increasing traceability.
2018
Old Vine Pruning Course
In collaboration with FELCO Africa, vineyard worker training is designed to ensure that these vineyards are pruned correctly and preserved for the future.
2018
Old vine research takes flight
The chemical profiling of the 'old vine' sensory character of Chenin Blanc wines takes an important step forward. The 'Aroma of South African Chenin Blanc Wines' wheel is updated to include the new aromas and mouth-feel attributes that differentiates from old vine Chenin Blanc.
Research to investigate possible genetic influences to improved wine quality in old Pinotage vines is conducted by Professor Johan Burger at Stellenbosch University.
Research undertaken by Doctor Jonathan Steyn and Associate Professor David Priilaid, in a collaboration between Winetech, the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business and the University of Cape Town, concludes that vine age does, in fact, have a significant influence on the price of wines in South Africa.
2018
IWC Personality of the Year
Rosa Kruger is awarded the 2018 International Wine Challenge Personality of the Year award for her contribution to viticulture, in particular old vine wine.
2018
Certified Heritage Vineyards category
Platter’s Wine Guide includes the Certified Heritage Vineyards’ category while restaurant wine lists and local wine retailers dedicate CHV sections. A number of wine competitions create old vine award categories specifically to recognise the intrinsic quality of the wines that are being created by OVP members. These include the Investec Trophy Wine Show which awards a special ‘Rosa Kruger Old Vine’ Trophy, the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, Veritas, and the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards. The first Old Vine Report by Winemag was released in 2024.
2019
The world atlas of wine
The OVP and its world-first Certified Heritage Vineyards seal is featured in the latest edition of Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson’s World Atlas of Wine. Jancis is an avid supporter of the Old Vine Project and has been even before it was founded when she encourages Rosa to pursue the old vine cause.
2019
Heritage Selections
Since 2008, Vititec in partnership with the OVP, start to collect cuttings of South Africa’s best old vine vineyards with the goal to develop clean plant material from these old vines. These cuttings are taken and material is cleaned of all known viruses. These vines that are presently available to propagate are referred to as 'Heritage Selections'.
2020
Development in the vineyards
After tasting old vine Chenin Blanc from South Africa, the InterLoire realises the unique attributes of these old vines. The InterLoire take plant material of what they view to be the best Chenin Blanc blocks and vines in South Africa and discover that South Africa has Chenin Blanc selections that are extinct in France. The goal is to safeguard this gene pool in their clonal garden in France.
2020
Decanter Hall of Fame
Rosa Kruger is inducted into the Decanter magazine Hall of Fame for her work done with old vines. This is the first time that an award has gone to a viticulturist or to a South African.
2022
An International Milestone
At its 22nd General Assembly, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) adopted Resolution OIV-VITI 703-2024. This resolution formally recognises initiatives such as the Old Vine Project, Old Vine Conference, Old Vine Registry, and Censimento Vecchie Vigne. It defines an old vine as a documented vine of at least 35 years, with grafts undisturbed for the same period. An old vineyard is defined as a legally recognised block where at least 85% of vines meet this criterion.
2024
Changes to the team
Cathy van Zyl MW and Arnold Scholtz join Rosa Kruger and Eben van Wyk as directors. Andre Morgenthal concludes his tenure at the Old Vine Project.
2024
Golden Vines Awards
Rosa Kruger was honoured with the Golden Vines Innovation Award at the 2025 Golden Vines Awards in Miami, recognising her leadership and innovation in old vine preservation through the Old Vine Project. The award was accepted on her behalf by Sarah Abbott MW, who conveyed appreciation to the Golden Vines Academy for acknowledging the impact of the Old Vine Project and its producer members.
2025
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Since the Old Vine Project was formalised in 2016, the hectares of old vines in South Africa has grown from 2 952 hectares to 5 417 hectares in 2025. We currently have 136 members.
The OVP remains committed not only to preserving existing old vines, but also to advancing research on old vines, developing the skills of those who care for them, fostering climate-resilient practices, and establishing a culture to plant for the future; ensuring that today’s young vines have the opportunity to mature into the heritage vineyards of the future.
Our Partners
The Old Vine Project is proud to work with a network of world class partners and supporters.