To honor our mothers, we named our  wines – Alte Neffen – (Old Nephews)

Our Story

The story of Alte Neffen begins about 79 years ago in war-torn Germany. In January 1945, two sisters (Herta and Rosel) and their mother, along with many other German civilians, were waiting for the last train out of Breslau, present -day Poland. They were evacuated to escape the advancing Russian troops. Unfortunately, only one sister and her mother managed to get on the train. The other sister had to walk 600 km through the Czech Republic to Austria.

In short, this is the story of Herta (mother of Hilko Hegewisch) and Rosel (mother of Helmut Peters).

To honor our mothers, we named our wines „Alte Neffen“ (Old Nephews). 

Hilko‘s mother met a Namibian-German in a prisoner of war camp; they later married and settled in Namibia. Rosel also married and lived in southern Germany. Both families remained in contact with regular visits between Germany and South Africa.

During a visit to South Africa, Helmut Peters searched for a South African counterpart of the Italian Amarone wine. Surprisingly, none could be found. This was the beginning of their joint venture. There was no local term for the Amarone process, so „Method Kaperone“ was invented.

Helmut Peters and Hilko Hegewisch

Our Wines

SHIRAZ

In the glass, it shimmers in a deep dark red. The bouquet of the pure Shiraz is characterized by warm spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as light nut aromas and woody oak. On the palate, the dry red wine shows its strong complexity, ideally complemented by a slight sweetness, ending in a long-lasting finish. Perfect for the experienced wine drinker.

Type of wine: Shiraz 100%
Country of origin: Südafrika, Stellenbosch (Westkap)
Volume: 0,75 l

Alcohol content: 14,5 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 10 years
Drinking temperature: 18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2022

SHIRAZ MAGNUM

Our Alte Neffen Shiraz bottled in a 1.5-liter Magnum bottle. The advantage of Magnum bottles lies in better aging of the wine, as the ratio of wine to air (under the cork) is lower. This leads to slower and often more complex aging. The Magnum bottle comes in a high-quality wooden box.

Type of wine: Shiraz 100%
Country of origin: Südafrika, Stellenbosch (Westkap)
Volume: 1,5 l

Alcohol content: 14,5 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 10 years
Drinking temperature: 18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2022

MERLOT

In the glass, the Merlot exudes its aroma of black cherry, raspberry and fine oak notes. Softer aromas with notes of vanilla, tobacco, mocha and spices come to the fore. The Merlot has a clear structure and fine tannins, which fade into a long-lasting finish with natural acidity. After three years of ageing, this single-varietal Merlot reveals its full potential.

Type of wine: Merlot 100%
Country of origin: Südafrika, Stellenbosch (Westkap)
Volume: 0,75 l

Alcohol content: 13 -14 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 5 years
Drinking temperature: 18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2016

BLACK DOOR

Black Door 2021 is a blend of two different grape varieties and various vintages. The goal is to maintain the typical character of this wine. This method is also used for well-known Champagne brands. Black Door stands for consistent wine quality. When poured, it shimmers with an intense, dark red. The aromas unfold with the scent of almonds, cinnamon, and roasted coffee. With a sweet-fruity taste and a fine tannin structure, this wine entices you to want more.

Type of wine: Merlot 65%, Shiraz 35%
Country of origin: South Africa, Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Volume: 0,75 l

Alcohol content: 13 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 5 years
Drinking temperature: 16-18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2021

BLACK DOOR

Black Door 2021 is a blend of two different grape varieties and various vintages. The goal is to maintain the typical character of this wine. This method is also used for well-known Champagne brands. Black Door stands for consistent wine quality. When poured, it shimmers with an intense, dark red. The aromas unfold with the scent of almonds, cinnamon, and roasted coffee. With a sweet-fruity taste and a fine tannin structure, this wine entices you to want more.

Type of wine:  Shiraz 45%, Merlot 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
Country of origin: South Africa, Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Volume: 0,75 l

Alcohol content: 13,5 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 5 years
Drinking temperature: 16-18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2023

Our Wines

SHIRAZ

In the glass, it shimmers in a deep dark red. The bouquet of the pure Shiraz is characterized by warm spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon, as well as light nut aromas and woody oak. On the palate, the dry red wine shows its strong complexity, ideally complemented by a slight sweetness, ending in a long-lasting finish. Perfect for the experienced wine drinker.

SHIRAZ MAGNUM

Our Alte Neffen Shiraz bottled in a 1.5-liter Magnum bottle. The advantage of Magnum bottles lies in better aging of the wine, as the ratio of wine to air (under the cork) is lower. This leads to slower and often more complex aging. The Magnum bottle comes in a high-quality wooden box.

MERLOT

In the glass, the Merlot exudes its aroma of black cherry, raspberry and fine oak notes. Softer aromas with notes of vanilla, tobacco, mocha and spices come to the fore. The Merlot has a clear structure and fine tannins, which fade into a long-lasting finish with natural acidity. After three years of ageing, this single-varietal Merlot reveals its full potential.

Type of wine: Shiraz 100%
Country of origin: Südafrika, Stellenbosch (Westkap)
Volume: 0,75 l

Type of wine: Shiraz 100%
Country of origin: Südafrika, Stellenbosch (Westkap)
Volume: 1,5 l

Type of wine: Merlot 100%
Country of origin: Südafrika, Stellenbosch (Westkap)
Volume: 0,75 l

Alcohol content: 14,5 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 10 years
Drinking temperature: 18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2022

Alcohol content: 14,5 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 10 years
Drinking temperature: 18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2022

Alcohol content: 13 -14 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 5 years
Drinking temperature: 18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2016

BLACK DOOR

Black Door 2021 is a blend of two different grape varieties and various vintages. The goal is to maintain the typical character of this wine. This method is also used for well-known Champagne brands. Black Door stands for consistent wine quality. When poured, it shimmers with an intense, dark red. The aromas unfold with the scent of almonds, cinnamon, and roasted coffee. With a sweet-fruity taste and a fine tannin structure, this wine entices you to want more.

BLACK DOOR

Black Door 2021 is a blend of two different grape varieties and various vintages. The goal is to maintain the typical character of this wine. This method is also used for well-known Champagne brands. Black Door stands for consistent wine quality. When poured, it shimmers with an intense, dark red. The aromas unfold with the scent of almonds, cinnamon, and roasted coffee. With a sweet-fruity taste and a fine tannin structure, this wine entices you to want more.

Type of wine: Merlot 65%, Shiraz 35%
Country of origin: South Africa, Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Volume: 0,75 l

Type of wine:  Shiraz 45%, Merlot 45%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
Country of origin: South Africa, Stellenbosch (Western Cape)
Volume: 0,75 l

Alcohol content: 13 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 5 years
Drinking temperature: 16-18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2021

Alcohol content: 13,5 % vol.
Shelf life: At least 5 years
Drinking temperature: 16-18 °C
Recommendation: Decant before consumption
Vintage: 2023

Production

The vineyards enjoy the warm mediterranean climate of the Western Cape in the Stellenbosch region of South Africa, providing the best conditions for producing high-quality wine.

Before the harvest in February, the grape stems are crushed by hand, using long-nosed pliers. This stops nutrient supply, resulting in raisin-like, shriveled berries. A concentrated juice with an intense flavor and high aromatic content is formed. After careful handpicking, the grapes are destemmed and fermented on the skins for several days. During this process, the sugar is converted into alcohol and CO2, and the tannins are extracted from the grape skins. After pressing the must, the wine matures for 18 months in French oak barrels (barriques).

This unique creation from South Africa is therefore called Method Kaperone.

KAP + AMARONE = METHOD KAPERONE

The result is a full-bodied red wine with a nutty aroma. After bottling, the wine can be stored for several more years.