Winemaker
Anthony Hamilton Russell
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Hermanus, South Africa
- Venue
- Ashbourne · Winery
i. Biography
Anthony Hamilton Russell’s work is defined by succession: family property, place, and a consistent decision to move the vineyards forward without breaking from their base. He founded and has owned Ashbourne in Hermanus, South Africa, since 1996, and he is also the owner of Hamilton Russell Vineyards in Hermanus, South Africa. His own summary is precise: “I’m the founder and owner of Ashbourne.” The line is plain because the work is plainspoken too.
The Path
From 1991, Anthony Hamilton Russell took over the family winery at Hamilton Russell Vineyards in South Africa, beginning the period that would shape his career. That move set the terms for the estate’s next phase: continuity handled as active work, rather than inherited status. In 1994, he purchased the winery from his father at Hamilton Russell Vineyards in South Africa, fixing that responsibility in place. The sequence — taking over, then buying, then building forward — gives the estate its structure. Since 2024, Anthony has been proprietor of Anthony Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Ashbourne vineyard, and Southern Right vineyard. The title marks the reach of a long-running family enterprise, extending it across a broader portfolio while keeping the same anchor in Hermanus. Across those years, the central fact remains the same: ownership tied to the vineyards, and the vineyards tied to the family name.
The Work Today
Today, he is the founder and owner of Ashbourne in Hermanus, South Africa. He is also the owner of Hamilton Russell Vineyards in Hermanus, South Africa. The two properties define the present tense of his work: Ashbourne, founded in 1996, and Hamilton Russell Vineyards, carried forward from the family estate.
Signature
Anthony's signature wines include Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay 2023, Ashbourne Pinotage, Ashbourne Pinotage 2017, Ashbourne Pinotage-Cinsault, and 2001 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir. Taken together, they map the range of his work: Chardonnay, Pinotage in multiple forms, Pinotage-Cinsault, and a 2001 Pinot Noir tied to the estate’s earlier years. They are the wines most closely associated with his name.
In Their Words “We wanted to try and redefine it in a more classic way in a cooler area.” “We decided we needed a white wine to go with that red wine.”
Acclaim
No award or credential is part of his career biography; the major milestones are ownership milestones: founding Ashbourne and owning Hamilton Russell Vineyards.
Profile updated August 2026
FAQ
Asked of Anthony
What is Anthony Hamilton Russell's current role?
As of 2026, Anthony Hamilton Russell is Founder and Owner.
Where did Anthony Hamilton Russell work before?
Anthony Hamilton Russell's earlier career included Hamilton Russell Vineyards and Hamilton Russell Vineyards.
