Winesoundtrack - South Africa

Illimis, the Latin word for clarity, signifies winemaker Lucinda Heyns’ crystal clear winemaking philosophy. Wine should be a window to where its vineyard is rooted.
Illimis intends to honestly harness what nature offers, and follows a minimal intervention principle as far as possible, allowing the wine to express its origin with clarity, finesse and complexity.
Lucinda worked as viticulturist for leading South African wineries and refined her winemaking skills with experience in South Africa, California and Italy. A decade of hands-on involvement in both vineyards and winemaking, developed a clear vision for Illimis.
Being a viticulturist at heart, she believes that everything starts with the vines. Every vintage is unique, and her hope is that every wine is a tribute to the endless pursuit of refining the potential of each site the Illimis wines are made from.

Originally from Bordeaux where our family owns 3 wine estates, we fell in love with South Africa during our many travels to the country.Our dream was to combine both, the Old & the New World, to make wines close to our vision of perfection. Therefore, we decided to purchase this boutique wine estate of 32 hectares (including 24 on vines) located in Simonsberg valley in 2004.Manual harvesting, selection of the best grapes, French oak and Acacia barrel ageing, combined with a French "savoir-faire" from our South-African winemaker Jos Van Wyk, will lead you to explore some of the finest wines produced in the region.

The Hughes Family Wines - or Nativo Wines - is a family-run winery making handcrafted, certified organic wines that are a true reflection of their place of origin. Founded by Argentinean-born Billy Hughes, and run alongside his daughter Kiki, the wines are certified organic and naturally fermented, made using minimal intervention farming and winemaking practices. Their philosophy is that by interfering as little as possible with the wines, the unique flavour of the farm will be protected and expressed. Signature wines include multi-vintage award-winning wines: the Nativo Red Blend and White Blend. Additional limited release wines include a unique skin-contact “orange” or “amber” wine – which has become our signature - and a Field Blend created from a small block of bush vines. We have recently added various newer Mediterranean-style varietals and blends such as Tempranillo, a Shiraz-Mourvèdre Grenache (SMG), and Viognier. The wines have a unique mineral characteristic that is typical of the red clay soil which the vineyard is planted. We take an innovative approach to winemaking, which includes making an effort to understand and preserve the natural ecosystem that is unique to our farm and cellar.

Travelling through the Swartland on the back of a truck, heading towards an auction, a Nguni cow knew a beautiful vineyard when she saw one and jumped off. She was appropriately named Survivor when the grower found her grazing in his vineyard. Like her, our wines start with a leap in the vineyard and in true Nguni spirit our grapes are now sourced not only from the Swartland, but also the Elgin Valley, Stellenbosch, Darling, Tradouw and Hemel-en-Aarde, to compose the unique complexity and diversity of the wines in the Survivor Range. Our winemaker intensely debated which regions possessed the perfect balance of rainfall, clay, shale and granite content, so that opening a bottle of Survivor allows you to experience the essence of these terroirs. Survivor Wines are as distinctly South African as the Nguni cow that inspired them.

Lubanzi is a start-up, sustainable, South African wine company, created in Cape Town by two young travelers, Charlie Brain & Walker Brown, who were inspired by a year (in bits and pieces) of living, traveling, hiking, and backpacking all over SA. Started as a collaborative business, Lubanzi is made up of a consortium of successful winemakers, viticulturists, farm laborers, and humanitarians in South Africa as well as its two co-founders. With roots in adventure and global citizenship, our name comes from a wandering dog, the locals called Lubanzi, that followed Walker and Charlie on a 6 day, 100-mile hiking trip across South Africa’s Wild Coast. Built, as a social enterprise, 50% of our year-end net profits are entrusted back to The Pebbles Project, a South African NGO that provides health and educational resources to the families that live and work on wine farms throughout South Africa. Built upon this notion of a more complete, equitable supply chain, Lubanzi strives to use its success to enhance opportunity for those who make what we do possible. Lubanzi was first launched in America in early 2017 and has since expanded into almost every state nationwide. More recently they have expanded into new markets across Canada, UK, Sweden, Ireland, and Asia. Alongside their most recent launch of their ‘Orange Is’ skin-contact Chenin they have also launched two new wines into their core portfolio- a Sauvignon Blanc and a Cinsault. In addition to being featured by NPR, the Washington Post, Forbes, Food & Wine, Business Insider South Africa & others, we’ve received 90+ points from multiple acclaimed wine outlets such as James Suckling, Wine Enthusiast, Anthony Dias, and Decanter. Hailing from South Africa’s rugged and iconic Swartland, we’re about making fairly- produced wine that punches far above its weight and is a force for good in the world.

Rainbow’s End was bought in 1978 by Jaques Malan. Since then owned by the Malan family. Started to plant vineyards in 2000 after terroir planning was done in 1999 by Prof Eben Archer. Rainbow’s End just planted under reds comprising 18ha of the Bordeaux varieties and Shiraz. ( 35% Cabernet Franc; 25% Merlot; 25% Cabernet Sauvignon; 10% Shiraz and 5% Petit Verdot and Malbec ). First wine was made in 2002 by Anton Malan being the winemaker since then and assisted by his brother Francois Malan who is the viticulturist and farm manager. Office, logistics, marketing related issues is done by Jana Cloete and winemaker Anton Malan is also responsible for the sales. Future projects has been done like planting of flowers and fynbos by Francois. ( proteas and pincussions). A new tasting room with spectacular views of the mountains and vineyards has been build in covid and opened in January ‘ 2022. After 18 months allready a huge success. Winemaking is done in a traditional way. Picking all by hand, destemming with no crushing and hansorted before going into tank. Open tank fermentation with traditional punch downs still done by hand. A unique cooling process is done with water pumped from their natural fountain through stainless steel plates in the tanks and back into the fountain. All the wines are matured in 225 liter French Oak barrels for 12 months and the icon Bordeaux blend consisting of only 12 barrels matured for 24 months. 40% of the wine is exported to countries like German, Switzerland, UK, Belgium, USA, Singapore and Japan. The other 60% is sold to the top restarants in SA, Private buyers and from the farm’s tasting room. Label is done in a traditional, classique style by their artist sister Marieke and the label is still the same as it was when first released in 2002. The red wines are all Estate wine with the flagship vatiety being Cabernet Franc followed by top Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Then a Bordeaux blend , The Family Reserve is made consisting of the best 12 barrels of the vintage out of their Bordeaux varieties. A marketing approach is driven by personal relationships and is done by Anton in the trade and exports and Fennel, ( the tasting room manager ), and Jana from the farm. The end produck is a boutique exclusive wine sold at very competive prices. Focus is 100% on quality and consistency. The red wines is made in a style between Old and New World wines. Wines that you can drink at a young age but can also mature for up to 10-15 years. The unique location in the highest corner of the Banghoek valley with great red oakleaf/red hutton soils with the passionate people working the soil, vineyards, wines and marketing/admin is the biggest attribute with their top quality red wine boutique brand.

It takes years to build a Legacy. Even Decades. Or sometimes Centuries. Groot Constantia wine farm is testimony of how one man’s love for wine established South Africa’s first wine farm in 1685. In a word, our wines are from rich African soil, crafted to perfection. Groot Constantia memories are part of literature and heritage and embodies the timeless endeavour to perfection. Furthermore, our heritage stands for growth, life and beauty. Equally important, it is alive and vibrant, like the vineyards we hold dear. It is in our hearts.

The Damascene cellar is a physical extension of our aspirations to communicate place through wine. As such, each vessel and process in the cellar must be as gentle as possible to ensure the narrative is not obscured by invasive winemaking techniques. This means that, for our red wines, no berries are crushed in the cellar. Whole berry fermentation is essential to preserve aromatics and elegance in a wine.We also use a roving satellite tank to fill the fermentation vessels, which does away with the need for pumping of grapes from the fruit reception area into tanks. In our conical concrete tanks, we have custom-designed set plates to facilitate a submerged cap fermentation for some cultivars; eradicating the need for punch downs or pump overs in these instances.Our red wines are, for the most part, matured in 2000-litre Austrian foudre, with a small portion being matured in 225-litre French oak barrels. Our white wines are all whole-bunch pressed via pneumatic press, using a delicate champagne press programme. They are then fermented and matured in 1000-litre oval Austrian oak foudres.

Bayede! Is the only Royal Brand and the only Royal signature and “By appointment to” trademark on the African continent. It reflects royalty, history, culture and quality.Bayede! Wine ranges suh as our lifestyl Broyal Range,The Shield Range, The Prince and Princes Range, to Premium Royal Range and Ultra Premium His Majesty King Range.The story of Bayede dates back more than 200 years ago, when King Shaka Zulu, the founder of South Africa’s Zulu Kingdom was greeted by his subjects with the royal salute “Bayede!” translated as Hail the King.Innovation: Late King Goodwill Zwelithine, the eight reigning Zulu King met with Antoinette Vermooten and after a cup of tea Antoinette realised not oly was His Majesty King Goodwill completely non – sicriminatory, but his obvious integrity and evident sincerity to help the poor and needy was music to her ears. The King asked her to help him to create jobs in South Africa. The King gave his warrant, the official Royal seal and signatrure to the Bayede Company.Bayede! Distinguised itself from other brands by job creations for women in rural areas. The bottles of wine produced have beadwork around the neck. At present Bayede! Has 30 beading ladies do beadwork providing a sustainable income for the families. The Zulu King envisages that the Bayede! Royal trademark will be “the instrument that pust food on tables and people to wordk”Future projects: Bayede! Women Empowerment Foundation: This foundation will focus on training for responsible drinking and cover issues such as domestic violence and early childhood development.

Holden Manz Wine Estate was established in 2010. The 22 hectare farm is planted with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and syrah. Semillon, chenin blanc, chardonnay, viognier, grenache and cinsault grapes are purchased by this party growers.The estate produces around 130.000 bottles per annum of which around 65% are exported outside South Africa. Holden Manz is a center of wine tourism with a five star guest house and spa, restaurant and tasting room. Most of our wines are fermented spontaneously using natural yeast. The farm has 75KW of solar panels. We use only French oak barrels for maturation and fermentation and also make use of co-fermentation as a vinificazione method.

Great Heart wines have a natural intensity, complexity, and a true sense of place. Each wine reflects the characteristics and potential of the vineyards in which they grow, and we are proud to practise sustainable farming all-round. In the pursuit to find a sustainable way to realise a mechanism for equity and meaningful transformation, Chris and Andrea Mullineux’s vision came to life in creating Great Heart Wines. The company is owned by the employees of Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines and profits from sales of all Great Heart wines go directly to the staff who are the shareholders of the company. Why the Wagtail bird as the symbol of Great Heart? The African Wagtail is known in South African folklore for its acts of selflessness and bravery in assisting others and has been chosen as the symbol of Great Heart Wines. The artwork was designed by celebrated local artist Jaco Sieberhagen.

Oak Valley Estate is an iconic fifth generation family farm, founded by Sir Antonie Viljoen in 1898, situated in cool climate Elgin. The founder played a pioneering role when he planted some of the first vines in the valley soon after he bought the farm in 1898. The Elgin valley was only classified as an official wine region in 1990, almost 100 years later, thanks again to the viticultural trials done by the Rawbone-Viljoen family, among other pioneers. Elgin is South Africa’s most important apple growing region, and today Elgin still has only about 850 hectares of vineyards. Oak Valley has always been a diversified business with our biggest department being fruit, followed by cut flowers and our winery. The first wines were released under the Oak Valley brand in 2003 and since then our portfolio has become focused on Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These wines are classically styled and beautifully crafted. We are convinced that Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the varietals that are best suited to tell the Oak Valley story. Our unique combination of a very cool climate, structured clay soils, above average rainfall, cloud cover and elevation give us extended growing season and expressive grapes with good natural acidity. Our flagship range, named Groenlandberg after the dramatic mountain that act as our boundary, are Estate blends of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Since our Estate is fairly big, we have the unique ability to farm with vineyards on different sites at different aspects and altitudes. These provide us with interesting components at blending time. These two wines are blends of the different Estate vineyards that we farm on the Estate and therefore tell our story as a whole. Our Tabula Rasa range consists of single vineyard, single clone bottlings in tiny amounts that enable us to get to know our vineyards and clones better. We currently have 4 clones of Chardonnay and 6 clones of Pinot Noir planted on the Estate and with this range we are getting to know the subtle differences between them and what they contribute to our blends. We are dedicated to this stunning piece of land and making sure that we preserve and protect it for the next generation. Our winemaking philosophy is centred around focus and detail and making sure our wines remain an honest reflection of our land.

One cannot mention La Bri, without referring to the past, as the property is an essential piece of South African wine history and culture.Small boutique estate established in 1694 , the name 'La Bri' probably comes from the French region, but we prefer the French translation of 'the refuge', a perfect name for this property, as it is securely situated in the impressive amphitheater of the Franschhoek valley.New vineyards have been gradually replanted over the years, a new cellar was built in 2007 and the labels have been redesigned. New owners from Germany June 2022 then introduced Double Door range, quirly unusual wines.Installing Solar to run the farm in 2023 and all farm water is borehole.All wines are vegan friendly and flower labels, unique to La Bri, all are endemic to western cape and tell story about the wine.

As the pioneer of Elgin’s acclaimed wine industry, experiencing the range of Paul Clüver’s award-winning wines is obviously a noted attraction of this charming and warm-hearted family estate. Here one finds a broad selection to titillate the tastes of every type of wine-lover, but if a suggestion may be made, do not miss our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. These noble varieties have found a home in Paul Clüver’s cool-climate terroir and are some of the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines the country has to offer. The memorable experience of the wine range can be complemented with a delicious cheese-platter, adding to a true sensorially satisfying experience. More substantial culinary fare is found in the welcoming space of The Restaurant@Paul Clüver. Here seasonal fresh produce is used in preparing an array of dishes in a modern space bathed in natural light and offering views of the vineyards and the natural environment for which this farm is renowned. The menu changes seasonally and flavour and freshness is paramount, with Chef Stacy Lee Chan committed to offering customers a welcoming selection of country bistro-fare.

UK Wine Merchamt Paul Boutinot makes his first wine in South Africa in 1994 called False Bay and exports in around the worldAfter a lifelong search he buys Waterkloof in 2003 and makes his first Waterkloof wines in 2005. In 2008 we receive Championship Status with our Biodiversity & Wine Initiative. 50% of the farm is under natural fynbos. In 2008 a modern winery and cellar is built, and in 2009 we open to the public with a restaurant in tasting lounge. The philosophy has always been to produce fine wine from cultivated and respected soils. Organic farming with natural wine makingOver the years we have established several wine ranges, with different price points and with specific definition. Off the Waterkloof property we produce apparoximately 200 000 bottles. We also buy in grapes under the False Bay Vineyards umbrella and make 1.8 million bottles which is sold in South Africa and around the world. After 11 years, we closed The Restaurant at Waterkloof in November 2020 as a result of CovidIn October 2022 acclaimedSouth African chef, Bertus Basson opened up Chorus Restaurant offering 4 and 6 course manu’s paired with Waterkloof Wines. In 2005 we realeaed the first wine under the Waterkloof range, a Sauvignon Blanc. It took us 17 years to release two more wines undder the Waterkloof range namely a Chenin Blanc and a Syrah.

Waterford Estate – our home – created to preserve the footprint of nature, the vigour of the vines and to share lasting memories with family and friends through wine. We believe that truly great wine will carry you away to the place of origin and therefore we are committed to ensuring that every bottle of Waterford Estate bestows a sense of belonging. The passion that guides us in our pursuit of excellence is evident in all aspects of Waterford Estate – from the warm welcoming of guests to our passion for conservation. This is our Waterford Way.

Making wines that embody origin is the ultimate outcome we strive for. We also respect nature and the preservation thereof; it is thus an endeavour of our team to rehabilitate the flora of this estate to that which is indigenous to the Cape, so as to maintain a balance between our natural environment and agriculture.

With Gavin Bruwer joining Raats’ side in 2010, the family affair has one shared mission: to consistently produce Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc of outstanding quality from South Africa and to establish these wines as international benchmarks.

As the Raats philosophy continues to flourish, new, curated additions have been introduced along the way. This includes the well-received, vineyard-driven B Vitiners Vine Exploration Co. range, and the single wine, speciality bottling of MR De Compostella – an incredibly successful collaboration between Raats himself and fellow winemaker and long-time friend, Mzokona Mvemve.

Based in the winemaking capital of Stellenbosch, Bruwer, Mzokona and Gavin’s winemaking criteria is rigorous, and includes the quality of grape, soil, climate, topography and of course the impact of the human hand, which together, embodies the truest meaning of terroir.

Our wines are a true celebration of terroir – the marriage of sun, soil and vine – together with man’s passion and fearlessness. Surrounded on three sides by mountains with varying soils and slopes, Franschhoek’s terroir is undoubtedly distinctive. At Haute Cabrière, we love thoughtful simplicity and so do not over manipulate fruit but follow gentle cellar practices to showcase our terroir. Combine this with a passion for innovation and colouring outside the lines and you end up with a range of quality wines from Franschhoek composed of pioneering blends and intriguing single varietals for you to enjoy.

High on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain, 50 km from Cape Town, lies the family-owned Delheim estate. Here the Sperling family has been making wines of character for many decades. Visitors to our beautiful farm will be greeted by breathtaking views and welcomed by a true sense of family hospitality!We invite guests to visit us all year round to experience our farm with its majestic surroundings, the superb wines we produce and the wonderful food we serve in our restaurant.We produce a range of award-winning wines, led by the majestic Grand Reserve, which since its release in 1981 has been honoured with much prestigious recognition. Our ever-popular Pinotage Rosé (the 1st of its kind to be produced in South Africa in 1976) and the quirky Spatzendreck dessert wine are just some of the other favourites which have helped to turn Delheim into a household name.A holistic approach to community and land, to wine making and to enduring good business practices is what sustains Delheim. The aim has always been to nurture a strong culture of sustainable development on the farm and within the community that grows up and works together on the Delheim estate.We invite you to experience the beauty of our farm, our wines and our hospitality, and we trust you enjoy them as much as we do in providing them.

Silvermist is a unique, secluded estate situated on mountain slopes in the heart of the Cape Peninsula, a picturesque fifteen minutes from the Cape Town city centre. Surrounded on all sides, by some of the most famous local attractions such as the Constantia Wine Route and Chapman’s Peak Drive. Silvermist offers guests some of the most diverse and unspoilt terrain in the city, from the organic vineyards to hiking in the world-famous fynbos floral kingdom. With its central location and unparalleled beauty, Silvermist is the perfect nest from which to fly.

It was after a meeting of minds between the creator, Carl van Wyk and his Belgian Friends that the first wine-making steps were planned. The marrige between a dream and commercial reality required counter-intuitive thinking and extraordinary courage and faith from the Belgian Partners. All wines claim there own uniqueness, with the luxury of choice in 17 different culitvars, we adhere to human priscriptions, but allowNature to prescribe as much as possible. Our wines are made as natural as possible, native yeast and minimum interference during aging, we try to make the wine as nature intended.Being true to our terroir and ourselves.Our wine ranges excists of 4tierings: Impressions of Nature – which consist out of a white and red blend. Respect for Nature – which is our cultivarTrue wines. Mystery of Nature – which is our alternative low sulphur wines. And Masterpiece of Nature – which we only release in extraordinary.

Dating back to the early years of winemaking in South Africa, this iconic Stellenbosch estate with its unique Stone Pine avenue, still serves the Stellenbosch and South African wine industry well with its extensive range of modern, quality wines with an historic edge. Known for its iconicNoble Late Harvest (named Maria in honour of its founding matriarch), award-winning Pinotage (The Owl Post) and industry-leading Malbec,the Neethlingshof name is synonymous with quality not only in its wines, but also in its hospitality offerings on the historic Stellenbosch WineRoute. The estate gives credence to the region’s enviable ability to grow, successfully, vastly diverse wines within a relatively small area due tonumerous divergent altitudes, slopes, soil classifications and terroirs. Neethlingshof is also extremely proud of its Conservation Champion statusfrom the WWF programme and strives to grow and produce its wines holistically in order to secure its future for generations to come.

Eagles’ Nest was originally a section of Groot Constantia, the wine supplier to European nobility, established by Simon van der Stel in the late 1600’s. Eagles’ Nest’s history reveals that it operated as a commercial farm producing export fruit, as well as vegetables for the local market, up until the 1960’s. Over time the farm has had a number of owners, since 1984 it has been in the control of the Mylrea family.Following a devastating mountain fire in 2000 which destroyed all of the natural fynbos vegetation and Protea plants, as well as approximately 95% of the forestation, it was decided to move the focus of the farm to wine. Whilst the Constantia Valley is most famous for white wines, it was felt that Eagles’ Nest, with its unique terroir within the valley, would be more suited to red wines. With its East, West and North facing slopes it is the steepest commercially farmed land in the Cape region, if not in all of South Africa. The land is located 10.5 km from the warm False Bay coast line and is in the direct path of the summer trade wines.

This beautiful farm on the east-facing slopes of the magnificent Constantiaberg and barely 12km from False Bay, originally formed part of the Constantia Estate, which was founded by Simon van der Stel, the first Governor of the new Dutch colony at the tip of Africa.First sold as a 200 morgen sub-division to Cornelis Brink in 1773, Buitenverwachting changed hands all too often. And yet it flourished as a wine farm, due mainly to the 90 000 vines planted in 1825 by Ryk Arnoldus Cloete, brother of the famous Hendrik Cloete of Constantia.From 1866, the fortunes of Buitenverwachting were inextricably linked to those of the Louw and Lategan families. One of the most colourful characters was Oom Danie Lategan, whose trademark was the freshly picked camelia he wore on his lapel every day. It was his daughter, Olivia Lategan, who was to forge the link between the Lategans and the Louws. Born at Buitenverwachting, she returned as mistress of the farm when she married George Louw.Imbued with a sense of history, the Mueller family has retraced the roots of Buitenverwachting. The farm was lovingly restored to its former glory while extensive planting of the most selected of cultivars was initiated. The result was a maiden grape harvest of 100 tonnes - the first harvest the farm had seen in 30 years. An historic achievement that lived up to its name: Buitenverwachting - "Beyond Expectation".

Beeslaar Wines is ‘n familie onderneming wat in 2011 deur Abrie & Jeanne Beeslaar begin is, en in 2012 die eerste wyn produseer het. Abrie is al 25 jaar in die bedryf en het ‘n passie vir Pinotage ontwikkel en ook om die potentiaal van die variteit uit te bou.Ons filosofie is om ons verteenwoordigend van die wingerd te maak. In hierdie geval Bosstok Pintoge op skalie grond.

We are the only estate wholly focused on Sauvignon Blanc, as we are Serious About SauvignonWe are the oldest owned family estate in Constantia, the oldest wine growing area in the Southern Hemisphere.The farm also hosts an equestrian yard with stabling.

Nomoya World PTY Ltd was established in 2021 by marketing professional Michela Sfiligoi, Agronomist Attilio Dalpiaz, and Viticulturist Talia Engelbrecht. The name NOMOYA, which loosely translates to “from a windy place”, was carefully chosen to represent the company’s concept of the notion of never forgetting ones roots, to honor the meaning that life will take you where you need to be, meeting the right people at the right time, and to grow with the people that are meant to be there. Founded on the basis of friendship, passion and integrity, the entity, who’s vision is to deliver an on-going contribution to the South African Wine Industry strives to bring forward a company which focuses on people, land and their stories.The dynamic trio wears their passion for agriculture on their sleeves and will continue to use their years of experience and knowledge to challenge themselves until their objectives are met.

Home to the Delaire Graff Estate in South Africa, the spirit of the first pioneers who founded the Stellenbosch Valley lives on in the region’s illustrious wine heritage, Cape Dutch architecture and spectacular 360-degree panoramas.As so often happens in wine, a humble intention can lead to an unexpected and far more glorious result. The bubbles in Champagne were an accident of bottling wine with a little sweetness to soften the flavour; the creation of the great fortified wines of Port was a measure only intended to make the wines seaworthy; and, in the case of South Africa, the wine industry was essentially started as a cure for scurvy.The sparsely inhabited tip of Africa was midway on the treacherous eight-month journey that Dutch sailors took from Holland to Indonesia. The spice trade was roaring, and business was good for the Dutch East India Company, which ruled the seas between the 17th and 19th centuries.

Aside from the unabating threat of shipwreck, the company had one other very serious problem – its crew kept perishing from scurvy. Following long stints at sea, sailors were blighted with the disease which, unbeknown to them, was caused by a lack of vitamin C. Although the cure wasn’t discovered until three centuries later, having some fruit, wine and rest seemed to help, and so the Dutch East India Company founded Cape Town in the 1650s as a supply station to refuel and recharge during voyages.The first Commander of the Cape, Jan van Riebeeck, fancied himself as a medic of sorts and declared Cape wine as the doctor’s orders to keep the scurvy at bay and lull the sailors into a relaxed mindset as they carried along the perilous spice route. He planted the first vines and fruit trees in South Africa, and on 2 February 1659 Riebeeck wrote home about his first vintage, praising God for the ‘very fragrant and tasty’ wine he had made from those original vines. Whether it was as fragrant or tasty as Riebeeck describes is debatable (the Dutch were far better brewers than winemakers).While it is highly unlikely Riebeeck’s wine would be anything to write home about today, it was enough to attract attention in Europe and convince others to travel and settle in the Cape.
When Laurence Graff first visited Delaire Estate in 2003, he paused to take in his surrounds. With its 360° panoramas and distinguished wine heritage, the view was utterly compelling. Situated at the apex of the Helshoogte Pass, the Estate overlooked the Banghoek Valley, and its vineyards ran up the slopes of Botmaskop Peak. The imposing 914m peak had been named Botmaskop – ‘Boatman’s peak’ – because its remarkable vantage point was historically used as a lookout point to spot boats coming in to Table Bay over 50km away, and to alert the wine valleys below to load their wagons and restock the incoming ships with wine and fruit. The north-facing slopes of Botmaskop also proved ideal for high-quality viticulture and the panorama remains unparalleled. To Laurence Graff, the view over Banghoek was not scary, as its moniker implied, but electrifying. He knew he couldn’t live without seeing it again and purchased Delaire almost immediately.

British-South African Entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE is the developer of Benguela Cove. A serial entrepreneur, Streeter has interests in hospitality, recruitment and property. A passionate conservationist, Streeter lives on the estate, the jewel in the crown of her collection. Over half this luxury development has been sold to homeowners, drawn by the attraction of living in one of the most spectacular estates in the world. It is managed by a homeowners association and residents join a world-class sustainable community.

Hill & Dale is a range of wines, exclusively of Stellenbosch origin, launched in 2003 as a “rebrand” of the Afrikaans-named Bergendal range of wines. Initially produced at Stellenzicht Winery, the production moved to Neethlingshof Estate in 2017 after the Stellenzicht property was sold.The range comprises whites, reds and sparkling wines and includes the largest-seller, Dry Rosé Merlot which was the first of the modern, dry-styled rosé wines on the local market in the early 2000’s.Affordability, friendliness and Stellenbosch origin lie at its crux an dthe range is proof that good wines need not be expensive.

At Nalu Wines, our purpose is simple: to craft wine for enjoyment while also giving back.We strive to source and produce esteemed wines that honour its place of origin andcontributes to our community locally through education and philanthropy. Furthermore, wefocus on partnering with producers that deliver products that are sustainable and in someinstances have vegan or organic accreditation. We are 100% dedicated to ethical trading.We aren’t restricted to collaborating with wine partners from one specific area. This allows us to select wines that best suit o ur market and deliver a quality, value for money product. Our portfolio is represented by an accessible and easy drinking range, made up of popular s ing le varietals. We have also included something a little fruitier for wine newbies in our entry level The Discovery Range. This product has already been produced for export., harnessing specific SA varietals.We believe, more than our winemakers' ability, it is the extraordinary creativity of the people and relationships we nurture, which produces outstanding, value for money wines on our behalf.Authenticity and trust, is key to the success of our model. In addition, it is our unwavering commitment to quality and our patient determination, demonstrated by the time we invest in sourcing beautiful wines.

Pierre Rabie, already considered himself a “winemaker” at the tender age of 9. His friends and partners, Karen van Helden and Robert Stelzner, were introduced to the wine when helping him with the bottling of his Giant Periwinkle wine many years ago. The wine would later be served at their wedding.Pierre established The Giant Periwinkle from small beginnings in rented spaces and hand crafted labels to where it is – still a fledgling winery but with its own cellar, vineyards and brand new label. The home of the Giant Periwinkle can now be found at South Cape Vineyards a small farm which still needs to grow into its name (previously Tolbos / Die Werf) near Baardskeerdersbos, a stone’s throw from Elim in the Cape Agulhas wine district.
Balance is everything, and we enjoy every moment we have put into establishing our little winery. We enjoy being creative and expressing ourselves while simultaneously ploughing back into the industry and community.
We are part of a new wave of winemakers that take bold risks to push the boundaries of flavour and quality with every bottle from start to finish. Our efforts pay off – we have seen great success at local wine festivals and boutique bottle stores.

Lomond is situated on The Agulhas Plain near the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas – the meeting place of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans – 8km from the fishing village of Gansbaai and within sight of the sea.The vineyards were planted only on previously cultivated land within sight of the ocean. This maritime climate with the resulting cooling sea breezes ensures that the vineyards are kept cool which results in late ripening intense fruit.

On the slopes of the Ben Lomond mountain in the Uilenkraal Valley, our vineyards are planted on as many as 18 different soil types, which appear naturally in small pockets along the slopes and produce intriguingly complex wines with flavour profiles that differ markedly from one block to the next.This unique combination of geography, geology and climate results in terroir that is perfect for producing world-class wine.The Cape Augulhas appellation has its place among the world’s top winegrowing regions, and one about which we are incredibly passionate.

Discover the legendary ‘Cape of Storms’. Stand at the Southernmost tip of Africa, where two oceans meet. Explore the historic Cape Agulhas lighthouse. Marvel at the shipwrecks that dot this rugged, beautiful coastline. Visit the fishing village of Gansbaai and the memorial to the mariners who lost their lives when the Birkenhead went down off of the Birkenhead lighthouse, whose courage inspired the tradition of women and children first. Curl up in front of a cosy fire with the sound of the crashing waves in the background. Meander through the surrounding Overberg farms and quaint towns that tell stories of yesteryear. Sooth your soul.

Fifth-generation winemaker David Nieuwoudt leads a talented 'team with attitude' to produce award-winning wines from our high-lying vineyards that flourish in a pure, virus-free environment. In the spirit of collaboration, each team member contributes the passion and expertise that produce Cederberg Wine's exceptional portfolio of premium wine ranges.Whatever your preference, Cederberg Wines offers you a world of award-winning wines waiting for you to savour and enjoy, no matter the occasion.
The Khoisan people, who lived in harmony with the natural environment, inhabited the Cederberg area from early times, leaving behind a rich legacy of rock art. Then, during the mid-1800s, another resilient group of people set foot in the remote Cederberg – the Nieuwoudt family. The first Nieuwoudts arrived in South Africa during the early 1700s. Nearly 100 years later, their descendants moved to the Cederberg. In 1893 the present family moved to the farm Dwarsrivier, which is home to Cederberg Wines. Six generations ago, no one would have guessed that this rugged, fynbos-covered area on the edge of the Succulent Karoobiome would one day become a high-altitude wine farm in the Cape Winelands. The farm itself lies in the Cederberg Wilderness Area, and of its total 5 500 ha, only 74 ha are under vine.
Today, this award-winning winery is owned by David Nieuwoudt, who represents the fifth generation of the Nieuwoudt family. Emma, David's daughter, represents the sixth generation.Many stories have been told about 'how it all started'. Maybe the first Platter's South African Wine Guide (1980) puts it best: 'Oom Pollie has confounded the experts by producing prize-winning wines on his farm high in the remote Cederberg mountains. He first started making wine for the farm workers with table grapes that ripened too late to be taken in by the nearest co-operative.
He venture was so successful that he decided to try his hand at making red wine, and the first vintage in 1977, though too small to be certified the first vintage, was acclaimed by experts as being up to 'superior standards.' The other story goes as follows: There used to be no vines on the farm. Then, a friend, who worked for the Deciduous Fruit Board, noticed that winter fruit was doing really well on this fruit and tobacco farm. So he recommended that the family plant table grapevines. The Nieuwoudts followed the recommendation in 1965, and the vines did so well that the first wine vines were planted in 1973 – the source of the top-class Cabernet Sauvignon of 1977/8. David's grandfather, Oom Pollie, and his uncle, Oom Flippie, managed the farm until 1997. In 1997 David returned to the land where he grew up and took over the reins from Oom Flippie. Oom Pollie passed on in 1988 and Oom Flippie in 2010.

The Cape’s first farm, established in 1682, has come a long way from its humble beginnings.
Just 20 minutes from the bustling heart of the Mother City, Steenberg feels miles from the world. Steenberg Farm boasts the 5-Star Steenberg Hotel, with 24 rooms encapsulating the dictum of understated luxury, offering spectacular views and discreet, personalised service.
The original Manor House has been lovingly restored and declared a Provincial Heritage Site. Here the legendary elegance and traditions of the 17th century blend harmoniously with the most refined comforts and conveniences of our modern age.
A diverse dining destination with two restaurants is complemented by a tasting of award-winning wines at the Tasting Room.
A visually spectacular and technically challenging 18-hole golf course features as part of the beautiful scenery at Steenberg Farm.

The Human Family has farmed successfully on the Moddervlei farm, where the Black Oystercatcher winery is housed, for generations. The farm is situated between the small towns of Elim, Bredasdorp and Agulhas, in the Overberg region in South Africa. In 1998, Dirk and his family decided to live their dream – by planting vineyards on the property.
Dirk’s knowledge of the land with its sand plains, wetlands, extensive limestone and calcareous dunes enabled him to select the perfect location for the Black Oystercatcher’s vineyards. In so doing, Dirk became one of the pioneers to establish vineyards in the maritime ward of Elim in 1998. By 2005, the first boutique wines were bottled. Dirk named the new wines after the rare Black Oystercatcher birds, which, like the grapes, thrive along the coastline around the cool tip of Africa. Today, around 70 000 bottles of Black Oystercatcher boutique wines are produced a year – making the wines truly exclusive.
It was time to extend the Black Oystercatcher wine range. So over the years, Dirk has added a host of reserve wines to the selection. Like the Reserve Sauvignon blanc, Reserve Semillon, the Blanc Fumé, the Wild Ferment, the Noble Late, and the Méthode Cap Classique – are only available at the Black Oystercatcher Farm or on our online shop.
A time to grow Dirk’s next goal? To bring the world to his doorstep in the Agulhas Wine Triangle, and show them the uniqueness of this southernmost wine-producing region.
The Black Oystercatcher is a family-run wine farm at the cool Oystercatcher Farm.
Our unique region crafts our cool-climate wines, creating penetrating fruit flavours, and a distinctive minerality.
But we’re more than a winery: we’re a destination. We offer fresh farm-style snacks from our deli and wine tastings. Shop for local crafts and our cool-climate wines and craft beers in our shop. And stay over in our self-catering cottages overlooking the biodiversity-rich Agulhas Plain. We also have a wedding and function venue.

Simonsig Wine Estate is synonymous with the history of the South African wine industry, the Stellenbosch wine region, and the Malan family name. These elements are intertwined in this family-owned farm, where the late Frans Malan produced the first bottle of our much-loved Kaapse Vonkel, South Africaʼs first Méthode Cap Classique made in the classic bottle-fermented style. He is also honoured for co-founding the thriving Stellenbosch Wine Route, a first in its time. Today, his legacy lives on through his sons, Francois and Johan, and grandchildren Francois-Jacques, Christelle and Michael, the 2nd and 3rd Malan generations at Simonsig Wine Estate.

We recognise the importance of sustaining the source of our beautiful products, which is why the Estate ascribes to Wieta, BWI, HACCP, IPW and CVC standards that ensure responsible and ethical wine production. Committed to the well-being of our people, Simonsig offers various mentorship and leadership programs to its staff and their children, as well as an on-site crèche and aftercare facility.

At Simonsig, the Malan family values drive the Estate’s commitment to producing wines of internationally regarded excellence, expressing the unique and diverse terroir of the Stellenbosch region. We also believe that being a gift of nature made for the enjoyment of people, our wine offering should always be complemented by true Cape hospitality and efficient service.

Brookdale Estate is the pinnacle of the Rudd family’s passions. Here, Mediterranean varietals, a unique Paarl terroir and unusual winemaking techniques are brought together under the visionary hand of owner, Tim Rudd, and winemaker, Kiara Scott. The first step in this vision – produce fine and interesting wine blends using unusual varietals in a South African context. The second step was opening the doors to the elegant Manor House, set against a dramatic backdrop of the Klein Drakenstein mountains, as a refuge of wellness and a haven of tranquility. Brookdale Estate has broken ground on the next step in their journey, an upcoming restaurant and tasting lounge where you can once again expect the unexpected with menus crafted by Gary Coetzee and tasting experiences that serve to nourish your mind as much as your palate.

When taking in the landscape of our Modern farm, it is hard to believe that it used to be a simple goat farm. That chapter came to a close during the all-consuming fires of 2000 which left nothing but a thick stand of alien vegetation in its path. In the year 2002 the Du Preez family purchased the pocket of foreign forest with the intention to restore the site to its original pristine state. That meant costly alien-clearing, the establishment of a firebreak around the border of the farm and extensive soil studies which naturally led to the establishment of vineyards.

History: When taking in the landscape of our Modern farm, it is hard to believe that it used to be a simple goat farm. That chapter came to a close during the all-consuming fires of 2000 which left nothing but a thick stand of alien vegetation in its path. In the year 2002 the Du Preez family purchased the pocket of foreign forest with the intention to restore the site to its original pristine state. That meant costly alien-clearing, the establishment of a firebreak around the border of the farm and extensive soil studies which naturally led to the establishment of vineyards.

The first vines were planted in 2003 with the help of dedicated farm manager, Japie Bronn. Japie Bronn was our farm manager at Beau Constantia from inception in 2002 through to his departure in 2015. He was a devoted man who dedicated his life to vineyards and wine production.

Hailing from the Robertson district, this salt-of-the-earth winegrower was involved in developing vineyards around Constantia and Cape Point for over 35 years. Prior to taking on the project of planning and planting the vineyards at Beau Constantia, Oom Japie was instrumental in setting up the vineyards at both Steenberg and Cape Point Vineyards. He was a silent legend in the wine industry, too often taking refuge from the limelight behind his extensive beard. His commitment as a winegrower was admirable beyond reproach.

Our philosophy on winemaking is simple – we strive to produce wines that are an honest expression of their origin. We want to create wines of purity, focus and complexity. Above all, we want the wines to show balance, an equilibrium between all elements. We aim for every mouthful to transport you back to that specific place in time and the prevailing conditions that governed the ripening of the grapes. If you can succeed in creating that level of engagement between person and place, as well as produce a wine that delights in taste, I believe you’re onto something.

Formal environment: Our glass-encased tasting room is permeable to the landscape and provides a lens into the natural environment, creating a constant state of transition as the vineyards change with the seasons. It is a space that embraces change as the basic rule of nature, as elegantly as our carefully created range of wines.

Experiential: Our amphitheater has been home to some of the most exciting local talents! Whether we are screening a film, facilitating a music concert or hosting one of our famous Silent discos, we invite our extended family (that’s you) to grab a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine for a relaxing afternoon or evening on our lawns overlooking the greater False Bay!

Playground: The newest addition and our latest attempt to keep things fresh is our open-air deck that floats like a ship over the Constantia Valley’s rolling vineyards! On the deck a funky food truck from which we collaborate with local brands to serve our guests food offerings to match our wines! Collaborations change on a monthly basis to ensure we are always serving fresh experiences (that pair with our wines, of course)!

Key innovations: Sustainability innovation through a future centric approach.

We are a family owned and contolled wine company founded in 2007. Our mission is make and sell a range of quality and exciting wines and to use the proceeds from the sales of these wines to fund conservation. It is fitting that this interview should happen kow- it is exactly 15 years since we registered Painted Wolf wines and began to trade under that name.

Our range of of wines is anchored around the two most iconic South African grapes cultivars, Chenin Blanc and Pinotage. We have a further selection of wines produced from grapes grown in a number of key wine producing areas in the country .Our aim is to match the best cultivars from each site. We also have a small range of certified single vineyard wines and heritage wines.Painted Wolf work with organic , traditional and biological grapes growers. The cellar we currently work in is not certified for organic wine production, so our wine produced from organically certified vines cannot be certifiedUp till now we have rented cellar space at other cellars. From 2023 we will have our own production cellar.

Painted Wolf Wines was set up to fund conserservation. Emma and I used to work in a safari camp in Savuti, in the wilderness in Botswana, and on our wedding day we made a pledge to support the conservation of Africas wild spaces. Our partner and local sales manager, Jeremys sister Amanda, was a wild life film maker for many years and is a board member of the African Pangolin Working group. Conservation in a part of our DNA , We have donated a portion of our turnover since the first sales made by the company. This is normally in the region of 4% to 5% of annual turnonver. The main focus of our conservation efforts is on the of the rare and highly engangered African Wild Dog ( Lycaon Pictus) also known as Painted Wolf or Painted Dog . We also make a substantial donatio each year to Childern in the Wilderness, as well as adhoc donations supporting various other conservation projects. Donations to Painted Wolf conservation exceed R3 million to date, and to Childeren in the Wilderness we have donated over R800,000.

The main recipients of our donations are the Engangered Wild Life trust , and in particular the African Wilddog range expansion project , and to UK charity Tusk who inturn distribute our donations to cnservation efforts in Botswana and Zimbabwe. We believe in a holistic approach to conservation which take account of both the needs of the wildereness and various wild animals and the wellbeing of people who live in proximity to wilderness areas.
We have recently embarked on a new wine project to rebrand a few of our wines and name them for famous African wild dogs. This project ties the wine to an iconic dog, which is inturn tied to a relevant conservation organization and to the person driving this organisation.
Our plan is to have the cellar certified for the production of organic wine

Within a mere 30 years – one generation – Beyerskloof has become synonymous with South Africa’s heritage varietal, Pinotage.
It all started with a vineyard, planted at a small home farm off the Koelenhof road in Stellenbosch, bought in 1988. It was at this historic moment, when Beyers Truter dug his hands into the soil to plant the first vines, that an iconic story was set in motion.
A few years later in 1995, the first Beyerskloof Pinotage was produced and bottled, and one year later it went on to win the first of many Absa Top 10 Pinotage awards.
From here, Beyerskloof continued to grow and in 1997, another 100 hectares were bought in the Botterary Winelands of Stellenbosch. The landholding increased once again in 2018 with the purchase of another 50 hectares of vineyards known as Kriekbult. These vineyards can be viewed from the deck of the Red Leaf Bistro at Beyerskloof, stretching between the winery and the majestic Simonsberg Mountain.
Today, Winemaker Anri Truter continues to build on the legacy of his father, Beyers, while driving new horizons. With his passion for innovation in the vineyards and cellar, the future of Beyerskloof and Pinotage holds exciting promise.
A visit to our tasting room is an experience in a relaxed atmosphere where the passionate and knowledgeable staff will assist you. A place to spend time with family and friends. Come and enjoy a diverse wine portfolio, ranging from easy-drinking to more premium wines. Beyerskloof focuses specifically on producing quality Pinotage and Cape Blends, there are a variety of different wines to taste and enjoy.
When tasting our award-winning Beyerskloof wines you will discover the diversity of the Pinotage grape. Once visiting the tasting room, you will become part of the Beyerskloof family.

Upland Organic Estate is a small fruit and wine farm situated against the majestic Hawequa mountains near Wellington. Edmund and Elsie Oettlé produce small amounts of high quality wines, liqueurs, grappa and brandy, as well as olives, olive oil, fruits and nuts. The farm is run according to organic farming principles, to ensure the continued health of both the environment and the consumers of our products. Organic farming makes use of natural fertilizers and pest control, and is sustainable in the long term. Vigorous, healthy plants are better able to withstand disease, and the quality of the product is likewise higher. However, these gains are offset by lower yields. On Upland Estate, organic farming techniques have been implemented for the past 27 years, and the farm is internationally certified with Ecocert. A dramatic improvement in soil and crop quality has been evident, as well as a significant reduction in soil erosion. However, it is the quality of our products that speak for themselves. The wines are exceptionally full bodied, bursting with fruity flavours, and are deeply coloured. Each vintage varies according to the gifts and constraints of the season. In the cellar, the wine is allowed to develop and display its uniqueness, and to express itself to the utmost. Thus no two vintages are the same, but each has its own secrets and delights. Careful maturing for 3 years in small French oak barrels ensures a well-balanced wine, able to mature for many years, and yet accessible for immediate drinking.

The Wraith family moved from Gauteng and purchased two adjacent farms in 2003 just outside of Stellenbosch. The farm lies between two high mountain peaks (Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountains), we tend to be several degrees cooler than Stellenbosch. Keermont Vineyards was born in 2007. What started out as 8 hectares of vines is now 29 hectares and 13 different cultivars planted. Alex Starey joined in 2005 as viticuturist and helped with the replanting program. After making a few experimental barrels of wines in 2005, today we produce approximately 65,000 bottles. 100% natural fermentation in open top tanks for the reds (Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec & Mourvedre). The wines spend 2 years maturing in barrel and at least 1 year in bottle before release. Our white wines (Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier) are all 100% naturally fermented in barrel and spend a year on the lees. All of our wines are grown, produced & bottled at Keermont. Alex and his team aim is to make wines that reflect the beautiful natural environment surrounding us. Exciting terroir equals exciting wines!

Launched in 2018, Rascallion Wines is a négociant based in Stellenbosch.
We source finished wine from our partner wine cellars in Stellenbosch, the Swartland, Darling, Roberston and Piekenierskloof.
We want to change the conversation so we won’t bombard you with history, terroir or complicated jargon – we’re here to provide interesting, easy-drinking wines for you to enjoy.

Waverley Hills: the first organic vineyards were established on virgin soils at Waverley Hills in 2000 and the new wine cellar was built in 2006. The farm is owned by the Du Toit family of Stellenbosch, whom has a very long history in the wine industry of South Africa. The belated Chris du Toit and first generation owner, was a director of Stellenbosch Farmers Wineries in Stellenbosch. Waverley Hills is best known for producing organic wines with a unique style - Extremely smooth with soft ripe tannins and robust fynbos (garrigue) characteristic. We also produce olives in brine, air dried olives and a small amount of olive oil.

The Estate is situated on the Tulbagh Wine Route between Tulbagh and Ceres, close to Wolseley, South Africa, at the
foothills of the breathtaking Witzenberg Mountain Range.The fertile, yellow clay terrain is impregnated with river stones, resulting in well-drained soils with excellent water holding capacity. All the vineyards are irrigated with pure spring water and are located on a natural watershed area. The area is renowned for its diverse fynbos (indigenous flora), giving our wines a unique herbaceous characteristic.

Being certified organic, we don’t use any artificial herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers. We fertilize with composts and manures. We use cover crops, such as vetch and legumes, for soil improvement and as host plants for beneficial insects.
We also allow some indigenous vegetation to grow in close proximity to the vines.
These areas provide food and a natural habitat for the indigenous fauna to flourish, adding a healthy diversity to our vineyard’s eco-system.

Along a winding road through canopies of trees in the Knorhoek Valley lies Quoin Rock, a historic Stellenbosch wine estate. Under the custodianship of the Gaiduk family, fate, passion, energy and vision have transformed the old Stellenbosch vineyards and wine estate. Quoin Rock Wine Estate is the inspiring home of captivating experiences, from wine-tasting to picnics, weddings, culinary adventures and tranquil mountain escapes.
With each of his passions, Vitaly immerses himself into the subject by educating himself about the topic to the point of becoming an expert. At the Quoin Rock winery, we address our projects with the same approach. For example, investing in proper soil analysis in order to prepare it perfectly before planting and knowing exactly which types of grapes to plant in our Stellenbosch vineyards to ensure the best possible yield.
Our custodian’s passions for the arts (including the art of winemaking) extends to our wine philosophy: that craftsmanship within the vineyard and the winemaker’s innovation in the cellar leads to wines that embody the uniqueness of our terroir.
Our wines offer a myriad of well-balanced, complex flavours that generate even more harmonies over time.
Stellenbosch vineyards are more suited to red varieties – Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our Elim vineyards are suited to grape varieties that have higher cold requirements, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay
Let us offer you a “taste of the terroir ” with our range of Quoin Rock and Namysto wines.

Noble Hill is an organic estate grower on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountains (in conversion EOS/NOP).
We follow a minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy and make delicate, fresh wines with mineral structure. We care deeply for environmental sustainability and our vineyards are in advanced conversion to organic certification, with continued investment in soil health. Our goal is to produce terroir-specific estate wines with minimal intervention and we thus continue to incrementally move towards greater lightness and freshness with each vintage. The Simonsberg mountains, where our vineyards are located, have produced South Africa’s finest wines for more than 300 years.
In our organic conversion we have focused on improving our soil health by planting regenerative cover crops. We’ve eliminated the use of herbicides and all synthetic inputs. Our long-term objective is the establishment of useable indigenous wildlife corridors running the length and breadth of the farm. These corridors will allow natural flora and fauna to thrive among the vines. Our wines are focused on expressing the terroir of the Simonsberg with a light touch. We are in conversion until the 2023 vintage. The 2023 vintage will be our first vintage certified organic.

Our ethos, Terra Est Vita meaning ‘Soil is Life’ encapsulates our view of Avondale Estate as a dynamic living system where soil, water and energy; plants, animals and people;even our buildings, are part of a complex web of relationships and networks, interconnected and interdependent.
Premium Quality Wines– Our commitment to promoting life does not only lead to Mother Nature’s approval of our healthy, balanced vineyard ecosystem; it also ensures the premium quality of Avondale’s unique, naturally-made, slow wines. The vigour of our well-tended vines leads to excellent grapes bursting with fresh flavours that are evident in our individually-styled, classic wines, so full of life and character.
Certified Organic – Avondale is certified organic and we practice bio-dynamic agriculture; but we go beyond both these beneficial systems of natural farming by also using the best 21st Century science, technology and knowledge to enhance sustainability.
Enjoying Our Wines – When we despatch Avondale wines for worldwide distribution in select markets, we hold the intention that they will play a role in enhancing healthy balance and affirming joy in the lives of those that take pleasure in them. We are mindful that whenever an Avondale wine is part of a family dinner or a celebration; an exciting gathering or a solitary interlude we are all connected in those moments by a shared love of life.

It is our vision to improve the lot of our employees by growing our business and thereby providing maximum job opportunities in a market that is desperate for support. We go a step further, we farm sustainably with no herbicides or pesticides, we till by hand, hugely labour intensive, but very satisfying, we prune, thin bunches and leaves all by hand and finally we harvest by hand. This additional employment we hope goes some way to improving the quality of life in our community and we know that if every community looked after their own, no-one would go wanting. This is our proposal, and consequently each bottle is a victory and represents a small change – for the better – in someone’s life.

Highlands Road has been producing wine since 2007, after Michael White turned an ageing apple farm into a dynamic wine enterprise. The desirable Elgin terroir is very suited to producing good quality Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz, just to name a few. This is exactly where the focus is at Highlands Road where the wine production is steered to highlight the splendid characteristics of these varieties, while also allowing each vintage to showcase a little individuality that hints at it’s birthdate.

The Highlands Road range has been generously awarded by the South African Wine Industry competitions and by the International Wine and Spirits Competition. All farm activities and wine production is performed by Vanessa Mead and her small team, Jacob September and Freddy Gertse. Apart from producing the premium quality wines, respecting and caring for the environment, the people who work on the farm and the community are priorities on Highlands Road Estate.

Eben Sadie is considered one of the great preservationists and visionaries in the new generation of South African winemakers. To Eben, the vineyard and fruit are part of the story—the truest
expression of his art and philosophy. The wine writer Neal Martin recently called Sadie an “outspoken, peripatetic, terroir-obsessed winemaker who has been instrumental in putting Swartland on the map.

He produces a small portfolio of comparatively expensive, but highly coveted wines based on Rhone varieties sourced from his seemingly never-ending search for pockets of old bush vines and unique terroirs. These are cerebral wines built to age.

Beaumont is a charming, family-run farm and winery situated in the quaint Overberg Village of Bot River. The farm is home to the region’s oldest wine cellar and is steeped in history dating back to the 1700’s. In 2004, Sebastian Beaumont, having honed his skills working in vineyards, took over the reins in the cellar and has continued to build the Beaumont reputation. The flagship Chenin Blanc, Hope Marguerite, has received Platter 5-Star ratings 4 times.

Andre Adriaan Badenhorst’s grandfather was the general manager at Groot Constantia for 46 years. His father was born there. Adi grew up between the vineyards and spent his time picking (stealing) grapes.

He made his first wine with Jean Daneel at thirteen. Adi studied at Elsenburg and went on the work harvest at Chateau Angelus & Alain Graillot in France, Wither Hills in NZ, and locally at Simonsig, Steenberg & Groote Post. He spent nine years as winemaker at the esteemed Stellenbosch estate, Rustenberg. In 2008, Adi and his cousin Hein purchased Kalmoesfontein farm in the Paardeberg area in Swartland, South Africa. Together they restored a cellar that had been neglected since the 1930’s, where they now make natural wines in the traditional manner. Adi Badenhorst is an award winning winemaker, member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, founding member of the Swartland Revolution and Swartland Independent and an ever evolving vigneron.

Wine Soundtrack comes from an idea of ​​sharing and knowledge; allows wine lovers to listen, directly from the voice of the protagonists, hopes, dreams, intuitions, perspectives, loves and passions.

Wine Soundtrack will make you reflect, smile, entertain through the voices of those who, in a bottle of wine, have decided to enclose their character, their dreams and their ambitions.

Wine Soundtrack will accompany us by the hand among the filiars of an idea, of a wider vision than the contained dimensions of a glass; space that welcomes the essence and condenses the fruit of a passionate but tiring and patient work.

30 questions, a small final game, a special interviewer. These are the ingredients of our brand new podcast entirely dedicated to the universe of wine and its protagonists who here have the opportunity to present themselves in a different way than usual and outside the usual clichés.

Capensis celebrates the character of the extreme vineyard sites of South Africa’s Western Cape through the noble white variety, Chardonnay.

South Africa’s Western Cape can be called both the oldest wine region of the New World and the newest wine region of the Old World. Capensis skillfully combines these two facets — the oldest and the newest — of Western Cape winemaking. It embodies the unparalleled quality that comes from old, gnarled vines planted in some of the oldest soils in the world, and it represents the young energy of a new generation of winemakers determined to make world-class wines with state-of-the-art techniques.
Capensis, meaning “from the Cape,” is a leader in bringing South Africa to the forefront as a world-class Chardonnay producer. The commitment to Chardonnay comes from the belief that the truly great vineyard sites around the world are revealed by only a few noble grape varieties.