Anthony Hamilton Russell introduced Berene Sauls at the winery a few years ago when she had just made her first vintage in 2015. It was immediately clear that Sauls knew her way around a winery; the wines were very promising. The backstory to Tesselaarsdal Wines is worth relating. Sauls is a descendent of freed slaves that worked for the Dutch East India Company who were given land by the widow of soldier Johannes Tesselaar in 1832. Sauls herself is a single mum with two sons, so this is no vanity project, but the realisation of an ambition to create a successful winery from scratch. “I am from Overberg,” she tells me. “I just bought a 16-hectare property where I made some bore holes that revealed about 8 hectares of soils that can be potentially planted with vines. I’ve just finalised the plans for the cellar with a 60-ton capacity. Nothing is planted at the moment, and it might not provide everything for Tesselaarsdal.” Sauls has an energetic, bubbly personality that’s quite infectious. It would mean little if the wines were average, yet she definitely has the knack when it comes to handling fickle Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Both come recommended.
Neal Martin, September 2022
The recently released 2022 vintage is again from Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge vineyards farmed by La Vierge with maturation lasting nine and a half months in 228-litre barrels of which 33% were new. The nose shows top notes of musk and violets before red and black cherry, earth, pomegranate and spice while the palate has great fruit definition, bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish remarkably dry. With good depth of flavour but also plenty of verve, this is dead sexy.
Notes of fresh spice combined with citrus. Subtle oak. Bright and crisp acidity keep the palate super fresh. Berene Sauls' new venture is well worth following. Hamilton Russell winemaker Emul Ross is making the wine here, the grapes sourced from La Vierge's Babylon vineyard on the Ridge. Aged for five months with 77% in amphorae and 23% neutral wood.
About TESSELAARSDAL WINES
Tesselaarsdal, owned and operated by Berene Sauls is named after the small village where she grew up. Tesselaarsdal is situated in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus in the Overberg region. After working at Hamilton Russell vineyards in various roles for 15 years, Anthony Hamilton Russell assisted Berene in starting her own wine business. Berene’s wines have garnered praise in a short time, a testament to her drive, passion, and hard work.
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300 - 1260 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC V6B 2S8 (778) 331-8999
