SHANICE DU PREEZ
Some journeys begin with a single step, mine began with a single sip I never saw coming. From Cape Town
Vine to Glass
Expect the Unexpected
Wine begins in the vineyard with the earth’s minerals, the sun’s warmth and the air that connects them. It fulfils its potential with passion, creativity and skill in the cellar. And it finds meaning when being shared.
Vines and viticulture
The promise of a new vintage
A true Cinderella story, Brookdale’s vineyards held immense possibility, but needed love and care to realise their potential. In this tale, Tim Rudd plays the role of ‘fairy godmother’. Having acquired the land in 2015, Tim established an innovative working wine farm surrounded by natural beauty in the Paarl Winelands of South Africa.
Of the 67 hectares on the estate, 24 are under vine planted from 2016 (and this is still growing). A single block of ±40-year-old Chenin Blanc was saved from the pre-existing vines and forms the cornerstone of the current Brookdale range.
The vineyard philosophy was to identify the most promising sites on the estate and establish thoughtfully conceived blocks. A blend of unusual grape varietals to South Africa from Portugal, France and Italy, as well as the Paarl region’s most notable varietals, makes for an enthralling vineyard makeup.
At Brookdale, we believe in exploration and freedom of expression – the expression, that is, of fruit! With flavour profiles as diverse as they are intriguing, and a few surprises up our sleeve, join us to explore the terroir for yourself.
A MAVERICK COLLECTION
Innovation & Inspiration
Our approach in the cellar is … unconventional. With winemaker Xander Sadie and assistant winemaker, Shanice du Preez, along with proprietor Tim Rudd offering sage advice, the Brookdale winemaking team is as creative as they are unpredictable.
Formulas are thrown out the window. We embrace harvest specific and site specific practices within the Paarl wine valley. We explore techniques in varying combinations as we search for the right approach for each block and vine. It’s a continual process of experimentation and discovery as we investigate our curiosity and test new theories.
We might harvest a single block in batches to ensure balance, combine basket pressing and foot stomping for free run juice extraction, or explore a mix of steel tank and wood fermentation. You’ll have to wait for each vintage to find out what it has in store.
What you can be sure of is quality with each wine we release. As passionate wine enthusiasts with an outstanding vineyard with which to try new things, our primary goal is to produce extraordinary wines vintage after vintage.
The Vines
VARIETALS
Whites: Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Piquepoul Blanc, Petite Manseng, Palomino, Vermentino, Assyrtiko, 16 White Field Blend
Reds: Grenache Noir, Touriga Nacional, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Tinta Roriz, Sangiovese, Cinsault, Counoise, 20 Red Field Blend
UNDER VINE
24,42 hectares
YOUNGEST BLOCK
Counoise: Planting date 2024
OLDEST BLOCK
Old Vine Chenin Blanc: Planting date 1985
SOIL
Granite & Clay
WIND
North-West & South-East
WINE OF ORIGIN
Paarl, South Africa
Featured Wines
Explore Brookdale’s Wine Range
Shop wines from our Mason Road and Brookdale ranges, from our cellar to your door in South Africa.
2024 Brookdale Sixteen Field Blend
R465 per bottle
2025 Brookdale Sixteen Field Blend
R465 per bottle
2024 Brookdale Bradbourne Estate Blend
R425 per bottle
2025 Brookdale Bradbourne Estate Blend
R425 per bottle
2024 Brookdale Old Vine Chenin Blanc
R425 per bottle
2025 Brookdale Grenache Noir
R465 per bottle
2025 Brookdale Twenty Field Blend
R465 per bottle
Mason Road GSM
R165 per bottle
Mason Road Syrah
R165 per bottle
Mason Road Serendipity Rosé
R150 per bottle
STORIES ABOUT OUR WINES & VINES
Explore our Journal
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XANDER SADIE
I grew up in the winelands, where my passion for winemaking began at a young age. I had a strong
JACUS MARAIS
In the last 22 years I have been involved in so many different aspects of the industry from sales, winemaking, bottling, labelling, and driving forklifts to washing the farm dog and babysitting the kids! I love the fact that the wine industry keeps on changing and evolving with no two vintages being the same. I am extremely proud to be part of this passionate team as we create fond memories for all whom connect with Brookdale Estate.