Kershaw
Summary
Kershaw Wines is a boutique winery founded in 2012 by Master of Wine Richard Kershaw, producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah from carefully selected cool-climate vineyards in South Africa's Elgin Valley, where Atlantic influences and diverse soils at 250-400m elevation define the terroir. The winery's scientific precision is evident in its clonal selection approach and minimal intervention techniques, with its rapid quality ascent establishing Kershaw as a technically rigorous producer pushing the boundaries of South African winemaking.
Heritage & Leadership
Kershaw Wines was established in 2012 by Richard Kershaw, a Cape Winemakers Guild member and the first South African winemaker to achieve the prestigious Master of Wine qualification. British-born Kershaw founded his eponymous winery in Elgin after an extensive international winemaking career that included a significant tenure as winemaker at Mulderbosch Vineyards. The winery represents a focused project dedicated to producing site-specific, clonal-selected wines from noble grape varieties. From its inception, Kershaw has maintained complete ownership and direction of the winery, personally overseeing all aspects of production from vineyard to bottle. The first commercial vintage was released in 2012, marking the beginning of what has become one of South Africa's most technically precise wine operations.
## Vineyards & Wines
Kershaw Wines operates exclusively in the cool-climate Elgin Valley within South Africa's Cape South Coast region. This area sits at elevations between 250-400 meters above sea level and benefits from proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, creating ideal conditions for the winery's focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Rather than owning vineyards, Kershaw works with carefully selected growers in Elgin, choosing specific GPS-referenced vineyard blocks based on their soil composition, aspect, and microclimate. The vineyards feature diverse soil profiles including decomposed shale, sandstone, and clay-rich structures that contribute distinct characteristics to the wines. Kershaw's portfolio is organized into several tiers, with the flagship Clonal Selection wines showcasing specific clones grown on particular soil types. The Deconstructed range examines individual clones in isolation, while the Elgin Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah represent the regional expression of these varieties.
## Philosophy & Practice
Kershaw's winemaking philosophy centers on precision viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. The winery employs a meticulous approach to clonal selection, matching specific genetic material to appropriate soil types and microclimates to achieve optimal ripening and flavor development. In the cellar, Kershaw utilizes native yeasts for fermentation and employs judicious oak treatment, with French oak barrels carefully selected to complement each wine. For Chardonnay, whole bunch pressing and extended lees contact are standard practices, while Pinot Noir receives partial whole cluster fermentation depending on the vintage conditions. Syrah is typically co-fermented with small percentages of Viognier following Northern Rhône traditions. Production remains deliberately small, allowing for hands-on attention throughout the winemaking process. This technical approach reflects Richard Kershaw's Master of Wine background, combining scientific understanding with a commitment to expressing Elgin's distinctive cool-climate terroir through transparent winemaking practices.
Vineyards & Wines
Kershaw Wines operates exclusively in the cool-climate Elgin Valley within South Africa's Cape South Coast region. This area sits at elevations between 250-400 meters above sea level and benefits from proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, creating ideal conditions for the winery's focus on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. Rather than owning vineyards, Kershaw works with carefully selected growers in Elgin, choosing specific GPS-referenced vineyard blocks based on their soil composition, aspect, and microclimate. The vineyards feature diverse soil profiles including decomposed shale, sandstone, and clay-rich structures that contribute distinct characteristics to the wines. Kershaw's portfolio is organized into several tiers, with the flagship Clonal Selection wines showcasing specific clones grown on particular soil types. The Deconstructed range examines individual clones in isolation, while the Elgin Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah represent the regional expression of these varieties.
## Philosophy & Practice
Kershaw's winemaking philosophy centers on precision viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. The winery employs a meticulous approach to clonal selection, matching specific genetic material to appropriate soil types and microclimates to achieve optimal ripening and flavor development. In the cellar, Kershaw utilizes native yeasts for fermentation and employs judicious oak treatment, with French oak barrels carefully selected to complement each wine. For Chardonnay, whole bunch pressing and extended lees contact are standard practices, while Pinot Noir receives partial whole cluster fermentation depending on the vintage conditions. Syrah is typically co-fermented with small percentages of Viognier following Northern Rhône traditions. Production remains deliberately small, allowing for hands-on attention throughout the winemaking process. This technical approach reflects Richard Kershaw's Master of Wine background, combining scientific understanding with a commitment to expressing Elgin's distinctive cool-climate terroir through transparent winemaking practices.
Philosophy & Practice
Kershaw's winemaking philosophy centers on precision viticulture and minimal intervention in the cellar. The winery employs a meticulous approach to clonal selection, matching specific genetic material to appropriate soil types and microclimates to achieve optimal ripening and flavor development. In the cellar, Kershaw utilizes native yeasts for fermentation and employs judicious oak treatment, with French oak barrels carefully selected to complement each wine. For Chardonnay, whole bunch pressing and extended lees contact are standard practices, while Pinot Noir receives partial whole cluster fermentation depending on the vintage conditions. Syrah is typically co-fermented with small percentages of Viognier following Northern Rhône traditions. Production remains deliberately small, allowing for hands-on attention throughout the winemaking process. This technical approach reflects Richard Kershaw's Master of Wine background, combining scientific understanding with a commitment to expressing Elgin's distinctive cool-climate terroir through transparent winemaking practices.