SOUTH AFRICA
Signal Hill Winery
Born in France from a family of winemakers, Jean-Vincent Ridon envisioned creating Signal Hill after having worked a vintage as a wine consultant in South Africa for the 1996 harvest. In 1997 he decided to start his own boutique operation with a few barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon. The philosophy of Signal Hill has since remained the same: Small is Beautiful, and the production is based on a maximum of 4 000 cases annually.
The Ridon family, Anny with William and Louis, fully supports the operation...
The French expression, “VIVE LA DIFFERENCE” found on every Signal Hill label truly expresses what Jean Vincent Ridon tries to achieve with his handcrafted wines. VIVE LA DIFFERENCE reflects the quest of a true original spirit in his wine, which does not copy another style, or attempt to please a wine fashion victim or a journalist. This explains why the range of wines has followed a course of dynamic equilibrium: retention of the original spirit, while expanding in variety and depth. The fruit is sought from the best slopes of the South Africa’s ancient terroirs, and then exposed to an experimental winemaking style that has adapted to the quality South Africa grapes offer.
After years of obscurantism, not only on the political scene but in the cellars as well, South Africa rediscovers its terroir and its potential that made it famous in the 18th and 19th centuries, when South African wines were on some of the most aristocratic European tables, long before any Australian ever dreamt about vines. In less than a decade, South African wines are shinning around the world again, thanks to a new spirit aimed at quality lead by a growing amount of progressive talented winemakers of international stature.
Jean Vincent chose to situate Signal Hill in the middle of the scenic city of Cape Town, at the crossroads of the top wine growing districts in South Africa. Signal Hill won the bid for Cape Town’s first inner-city working winery that forms part of the R 1 billion Mandela Rhodes Place Development.
The fermentation cellar is located in the heart of the business district, betwenn the Parliament and the old city hall. The philosophy behind this eccentric choice follows similar site selections in France; such as, Beaune or Bordeaux: being at the center. This allows Jean-Vincent to select only the best grapes from the best microclimates. Signal Hill’s cellar is very close in proximity to the first site where vines were planted in the South Africa in the year 1655.
Kulekhani Lawrence Buthelezi, Signal Hill’s Burgundy trained Zulu warrior, joined Jean-Vincent for the 1998 harvest; ever since they have made a magic team. The door remains open during harvest to experience winemakers from all around the world, keeping with VIVE LA DIFFERENCE. As one of the most progressive winemakers in South Africa, Jean-Vincent was the first to bottle an ice wine, as well as the first to offer Petit Verdot as a single varietal wine. A bottle of Signal Hill will always surprise you with something different.