Delheim's 'Staying Alive' Riesling debuted in 2022, crafted from a select vineyard block with a deliberate philosophy: restrained terpene expression paired with pronounced fruit character. The result is a crystalline, well-defined interpretation of the variety—clean lines and precision throughout. The wine's bright acidity and fruit-forward profile make it an excellent companion to smoked charcuterie, cured meats, and dishes with tropical inflections, where its mineral backbone cuts through richness with elegance.

This wine was made as a collaboration between Delheim and Christoph Hammel a legendary winemaker from the Pfalz region Germany. "Together with Christoph Hammel, we believe Riesling is one of the world's great white varieties, and although plantings have declined in South Africa with only a handful of producers making wine from this cultivar. Riesling's ability to make great wines shows the variety is still definitely alive and kicking. With the Hammels making wine for eight generations, and Delheim now in the
third generation, Staying Alive also underscores the longevity and the important role of family owned wineries throughout the wine world.

About the Producer

Delheim Wines stands as a testament to a legacy deeply rooted in nature, spanning over seven decades. The ethos of conservation and emphasising sustainable farming practices in wine making has always existed on Delheim.

At the 375 hectare, family owned, Delheim estate on the magnificent slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, they actively conserve large areas of pristine mountain fynbos (a distinctive type of vegetation found only on the southern tip of Africa. It includes a very wide range of plant species, particularly small heather-like trees and shrubs), including the rare Boland Granite Fynbos, along with 120 indigenous plant varieties and a yellowwood forest.

The sustainable practices focus on regenerative nature-friendly viticulture, integrated environmental management, water and energy efficiency, and optimising biodiversity, as well as prioritising employee welfare and engaging the local community.

Delheim is owned by the Sperling family. The late Michael Hans “Spatz” Sperling, was the Patriarch and also a South African wine industry legend. His wife Vera still resides on the farm.

Eldest son Victor Sperling and eldest daughter Nora Thiel serve as directors of the company and live on the farm with their families.

Vineyard and Winery

Grapes are hand-picked early morning, de-stemmed and crushed. 24 hour skin contact before pressing. Juice is allowed to settle for 5 hours then racked into tank for 3 weeks of stabulation at 2 °C, stirring up the sediment twice a day. After that it is racked into concrete egg tanks and 500 L French oak barrels. Fermentation happens roughly between 15–17 °C. After fermentation the wine was kept on its lees until November before bottling.