Forty two hectares of red earth
Our vines grow on a south facing slope of laterite over sandstone at 480 metres. Here is how the hill, the weather and our hands shape every bunch.
Seven blocks, each with its own character
We farm the hill in seven blocks. Each is picked, fermented and tasted separately before any blending.
Block one, the old vines
Cuttings from Mazi Chukwudi's original 1974 vines, replanted in 2010. Low yields, tiny berries, the backbone of Ember Reserve.
Block two, the long slope
Our largest block runs the full length of the south face. It gives Plateau Red its bright cherry fruit.
Block three, the mist line
The coolest block, where morning mist settles first. Chenin Blanc for Morning Mist White grows here.
Block four, the red hollow
A sheltered hollow with the reddest soil on the estate. Early ripening, used for Harmattan Rosé.
Block five, the ridge
Exposed and windy, with the smallest bunches on the hill. Kept apart and blended late.
Block six, the terraces
Stone terraces built by hand on the steepest ground. Tempranillo with real depth.
Block seven, the trial row
Three heat tolerant varieties on test, watched closely for the next twenty years.
A vineyard calendar with two seasons in one
In the tropics a vine will grow all year. We use two prunings to give it two clear cycles.
| Month | In the rows | Weather |
|---|---|---|
| October | First pruning. Cuttings kept from the strongest vines. | Rains easing |
| November to January | Flowering, fruit set, leaf thinning by hand. | Harmattan arrives, cool dry nights |
| February | Dry season harvest, the main vintage. | Driest weeks of the year |
| March | Rest and compost. Cover crops sown between rows. | Hot, first storms |
| April | Second pruning for the August crop. | Rains begin |
| May to July | Canopy work, disease scouting twice a week. | Heavy rain |
| August | Short harvest in the August break. | A dry spell between the rains |
| September | Soil care and drainage repairs. | Rains return |
Cover crops between rows
Groundnut and cowpea between the rows feed the soil, stop erosion and give our team a second harvest.
No irrigation after year three
Deep roots find water in the sandstone. Young vines get drip water from a borehole for their first three seasons only.
Shade cloth in March
On the hottest days we hang shade cloth on the western side of the rows to protect the fruit from sunburn.
Hand thinning
We cut away a third of the bunches in December so the vine puts everything into what remains.
Terraces on the steep side
Block six is terraced with stone from the hill itself, built by hand over four dry seasons.
Scouting, not spraying
Pests are counted twice a week. We spray only when a threshold is crossed, and record every pass.
Learn to prune with Kelechi
Twice a year, in October and April, our vineyard manager runs a half day pruning school for home gardeners, agriculture students and the simply curious. You will learn to read a vine, make a clean cut and choose the canes that will fruit.
Example rate: ₦30,000 per person, lunch and secateurs included. Ages 14 and over; no wine is served at vine school.
See the next dates
About the vineyard
Can grapes really grow well near Enugu?
Yes, with care. Elevation, laterite soil and two prunings a year let us ripen grapes in the dry spells. Tropical vineyards on several continents work the same way.
Which grape varieties do you grow?
Mostly Syrah and Chenin Blanc, with a smaller block of Tempranillo and a trial row of three heat tolerant varieties.
Can I walk the vineyard without a tour?
For safety and to protect the vines, guests walk the rows with a guide. The terrace and gardens are open to all visitors during cellar door hours.
What happens in the rainy season?
We scout for disease twice a week, keep drainage channels clear and accept that the August crop will be smaller than February's.
See it for yourself
The vineyard walk ends with lunch on the terrace. Adults 18 and over may taste; everyone gets Grape Press.