Ashton Kelder
Alcohol in Ashton

Situated in the heart of the 'Valley of wine and roses' in the fertile Robertson area. Ashton Kelder is the home of easy drinking, quality wines at the right price.

Lying at the foot of the Langeberg mountain range, between Robertson and Montagu, lies a small town called Ashton. The town owes its existence to the railway station established in 1887 by the Cape Central Railway on the farm Roodewal (also the name of our flagship wine) A number of farmers, mainly those bordering on Ashton, Bonnievale and Robertson, considered establishing a new co-operative cellar to cater for their needs. So enthusiastic were the proponents of the scheme, that farmers came along with money in their pockets which they eagerly handed over to start the ball rolling, without even asking for a receipt. Ashton Co-operative Wine Cellar was launched with 28 members, a board of directors was chosen with Mr P. P. Jordaan as Chairman. A site for the cellar was selected and Mr Jordaan transferred a water right which he enjoyed from a Brandvlei irrigation canal, to the Co-op, since the ground on which the cellar was to be erected had no other source of water. Almost immediately, work was begun on digging trenches to carry a pipeline to the site where there had previously been a quarry. The Land Bank was approached for a loan which was initially refused, but the bank under-estimated the farmers determination. When bank officials one day by chance heard the announcement on regional news service of the SABC that water was gushing out of the pipeline in the old quarry, they relented and the loan was granted. One of the problems at Ashton was the considerable quantity of grapes being produced which were not suitable for vinifying because of low sugar content. To deal with these grapes, it was decided to use them for the production of grape concentrate. The product found great favour and the quality was considered so good, that virtually every wine producer uses it for the sweetening of semi-sweet wine. Ashton wines have won numerous awards at various wine shows. The Co-op currently handles 27 different grape varieties and bottles an extensive range of wines for sale to members and to the public. It also offers a pink Muscat de Hambourg sparkling grape juice. The grape intake normally amounts to 20 000 tons, produced by 46 farmers, making it one of the bigger co-operative cellars in the Western Cape operating under one roof, an example of what can come from small beginnings with a spirit of co-operation and the will to succeed. Ashton Winery strives to produce the best quality grapes in cooperation with its members and to supply exceptional wines to local and international markets. We are ideally situated as Ashton Winery lies in the heart of the Robertson Valley between the Breë River and the foothills of the Langeberg mountains. The unique climate, variety of soils and scientific viticultural practices ensures that only the best quality grapes and outstanding wines from this Valley of Wine and Roses are produced. The forty six grape producers grow all the main cultivars in a wide variety of micro climatic regions with the result that a wide variety of wine types and styles can be produced. The members are regularly informed of the most recent viticultural and vinicultural practices by our own vineyard consultant. The best vineyards are selected for the top quality wines and in this regard we are leaders in the field. The winery is equipped with the most modern equipment to ensure continuous quality and can handle up to 24 000 ton per year. Ashton Winery is also known for the production of grape juice concentrate for the wine and fruit industry. This product is of high quality and is unique to Ashton Winery.