2021 Holden Manz Elysium

Holden Manz Wine Estate sits at the southern tip of the Franschhoek Valley, cradled between the Franschhoek River and Stony Brook at 300 m above sea level. Founded in 2010 by Gerard Holden and Migo Manz, this 22ha estate planted on three distinct soil types that mirror the valley’s dramatic, mountainous setting. Winters here are long, cold and wet, giving vines a well-earned rest, while summer’s heat and autumn’s gentle breezes allow grapes to ripen slowly, concentrating flavour and structure in each berry.

Winemaker Thierry Haberer, Bordeaux-trained and Michel Rolland-mentored, brings a global pedigree to this terroir. Thierry’s cellar is designed for intimacy and precision: small-batch fermenters, open-plan barrels for hands-on élevage, and a streamlined flow from harvest to bottle minimise handling to preserve each parcel’s personality. Committed to sustainability, Holden Manz has also embraced solar power with 65 kW of panels now offset much of the estate’s energy needs, ensuring that every bottle reflects both the land’s natural bounty and the estate’s environmental stewardship.