Anthony Hamilton Russell | The Best Of The Best

Only the best of the best…

Anthony Hamilton Russell the proprietor of Hamilton Russell Vineyards, nestled in the heart of the Heramanus Wine Route is the man about town regarding everything “WINE”.

A long stemmed passion rooted in producing only the finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays has catapulted the estate into international wine loving and drinking stardom!

ShowMe Hermanus caught up with him, see what this local personality had to say.

When did you come to Hermanus?

As a family in the 1930’s for holidays – and personally, for holidays, since birth. I returned from England on Friday September 13^th, 1991 to live and work in South Africa.

Why did you decide on coming to Hermanus?

I returned from a management consulting career in England to take over the family property, Hamilton Russell Vineyards.

What made you decide to become involved in wine making?

I have made wine, but I am not a winemaker. I am the owner/manager of Hamilton Russell Vineyards. At 29 years old having worked in banking and consulting in the UK, I wanted to return to South Africa and do something I found more beautiful and varied. Call it a pre-mature mid-life crisis.

Hermanus is…

A place of great meaning to me and a place I would never want to leave.

I love Hermanus in the…

Winter – because we get fewer visitors and have more time to enjoy the farm – rain or not.

Summer – for the sea, visits from friends and the atmosphere in town, plus the build-up to harvest.

Autumn – for the end of harvest and the new wines in the cellar and for the mushrooms in the forests.

Spring – for the flowers, birdlife and the beauty of the fynbos.

If Hermanus was a wine it would be…

Pinot Noir – That to me is the signature variety for the Hermanus winelands – the Hemel-en-Aarde area.

In your opinion what makes Hermanus better than other wine growing regions in S.A.?

A strong marine influence and the resulting lower maximum temperatures, combined with a variety of soils appropriate for the planted grape varieties. In addition we have a growing number of committed, capable and quality ambitious producers.

Hemel en Aarde really is fine wine country! – Anthony Hamilton Russell.

What wine do you think represents who you are and your life?

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir.

(*Their 2012 Pinot Noir is described as being the perfect balance between richness and generosity along with dark, spicy and complex fruit aromas.)

My favourite wine is…

Top red Burgundy. It has a very long history and epitomizes the quest to use wine to express the beauty of place at a point in time. It is unabashedly esoteric – more like fine literature than an easy read – and there is something to learn (good and bad) from every bottle.

My favourite meal to enjoy this wine with would be?

Grilled lamb chops.

The worst thing I ever drank was…

A wine from Tanzania in the early 1990’s, followed by an English Pinot Noir in the late 1990’s.

The best part of my job is…

Enjoying the product and enjoying the place it is made in.

I would really love to visit…

India – I feel ashamed to have been to so many countries but not to have been there.

I wish I knew then what I do know about…

Building reserves in the good times for the inevitable hard times.

My best memories are…

Almost always of something outdoors…