Belong Wine Co.
Get the Dirt from winemaker / owner Bertus van Zyl
“(As a small winery) We are able to think outside the box and be more creative. Not be afraid to take new paths you weren’t expecting and to explore the unexplored. ”
What was your first vintage year? 2017
How many cases do you make per vintage? About 200-400 depending on Mother Nature.
Do you have a Tasting Room? We pop-up at our production facility by appointment. You can book on our website - https://belongwines.com/visit
What wine made you want to become a winemaker/start your own winery?
Mourvèdre, which is the wine we launched with in 2017. We had a bottle of Domaine Tempier on our first date then honeymooned in Cassis, Provence. We visited the property and got further inspired. We love the aging potential of the grape and the personal connection we had to it.
What varietals do you work with?
We work with Mourvèdre, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Vermentino.
What vineyards do you source from?
All high elevation vineyards in El Dorado County including Goldbud, Fenaughty, Camino Alto, Feuternick, David Girard, and Veerkamp.
What type of oak treatment do you use?
We use neutral French oak exclusively because we want to let the vineyards we work with shine and we think it’s what works best for our low intervention style.
What do you love about your winemaking region? What makes it different special?
We’ve been working with one father-son grower in El Dorado (Ron & Chuck Mansfield). Ron is one of the OG champions of Rhône varieties in El Dorado County, he has been working there since the 70s. Chuck has a winemaking background, so he really understands what we are trying to do and which vineyards would make the most sense for us. They manage the most amazing vineyards in the area and we are fortunate to have them as our grower partner.
We think El Dorado County is amazingly suited to Rhône varieties. Most people don’t realize how Alpine the region really is. They have some of the highest elevation vineyards in California. We love the soils and their impact on the wines, which are primarily volcanic and granitic.
What’s the story behind your winery name / label?
Our name Belong Wine Co. was inspired by our wedding song – Ho Hey, by The Lumineers. We would not have been able to make our dream a reality without the help of our amazing friends in the wine world. Belong Wine Co. is a celebration of this, and we feel very fortunate we have found our sense of belonging in this incredible community.
Our labels are inspired by our field journals from our favorite adventures and represent our love of the outdoors and drinking wine in the wilderness. They always feature a flower indigenious to South Africa to honor Bertus’ roots and a hike we have previously taken.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about the wine business before you started your own winery?
They did tell us… “don’t”… but we didn’t listen.:)
Most importantly, what's so great about being small? What can you do as a small winemaker, that wouldn't be possible for larger wineries?
We are able to think outside the box and be more creative. Not be afraid to take new paths you weren’t expecting and to explore the unexplored.
For more information about Belong Wine Co., please visit their website or follow them on Instagram.