Ultimate Seriously Old Dirt Collection

Seriously Old Dirt was originally conceived in 2012, as a classic ‘second wine’ in the Bordeaux tradition. Named by Vilafonté co-founder Dr. Phil Freese paying homage to some of the oldest soil in the world (seriously old dirt) that he had come to understand existed in the Cape winelands of South Africa. The name Vilafonté itself is derived from one of the oldest soils on our own vineyard site. This ‘seriously old dirt’, by most accounts, originated around 800-650 million years ago, when the earth cracked-up at the foot of the nascent African continent. As the Vilafonté team have gained in confidence, Seriously Old Dirt has developed a stand-alone reputation and from 2016 we started exploring beyond our borders to source vineyards and relationships which allow us to grow and improve. Today, under the leadership of Seriously Old Dirt head winemaker Arlene Mains, we continue our evolution. Seriously Old Dirt has become a multi-vineyard and regionally-agnostic blend inspired by the original wines produced from our Vilafonté site. We continue to explore new vineyards, sites & relationships that embrace and express the ancient soils of South Africa.

Matured for eighteen months with French oak.

Challenging, yet filled with optimism. The first fruit harvested for Seriously Old Dirt still comes from our property in Paarl. Much like the season experienced in Paarl, the 2022 vintage at large was characterized by a cool, wet start, with above-average rainfall in October and November of 2021. The increased rainfall promoted strong biomass accumulation, both of cultivated and naturally occurring cover crops. The cooler spring delayed budbreak by two to three weeks, although it was accompanied by even budding. This accelerated vegetative growth, necessitating meticulous and efficient viticultural practices. Flowering was also delayed by two to three weeks. As temperatures began to rise, the extended rainy period brought high disease pressure, and growers acted vigilantly to curb the effects of downy and powdery mildew. The below-average temperatures throughout the growing season further delayed véraison by 10 to 14 days. Harvest began nine days later on the Vilafonté property, with our other sites in Bonnievale and Robertson too experiencing a 10 to 12-day delay. Each block was harvested and fermented separately to maintain the distinctive qualities needed for blending. Vintage 2022 quietly reflects our dedication and the enduring quality of our selected vineyard sites. It exemplifies the concentration and fruit-forwardness of Seriously Old Dirt.

Matured for eighteen months with French Oak.