Cape Cru - a tasting of unique wines
Johann de Wet
Danie de Wet put Robertson on the map for Chardonnay. His sons Johann and Peter now lead De Wetshof. With 200 hectares of vineyards, primarily Chardonnay, the family business has combined tradition with international expertise and a focus on quality since 1693.
Hannes Meyer
Hannes Meyers has been the winemaker at Cape Point Vineyards since 2024. Prior to Cape Point, he worked at Simonsig and Lomonda, among others, before starting in the Cape Point cellar in 2023. He served as CEO for the first two years, but is now also ultimately responsible for the cellar. Hannes's vinification and work in the vineyards ensure that Cape Point Vineyards is regarded as one of the best estates in South African viticulture.
Arlene Mains
Vilafonté is a unique collaborative project between American and South African wine experts in Paarl. Focused on top quality, from soil to bottle, with a luxurious appearance. The goal: to grow into South Africa's first true luxury wine brand.
Martin Smith
Atlas Swift by Martin & Welma Smith produces premium wines in Franschhoek. Martin is the winemaker and became known for his work for Pasarene. Their specialty is Chardonnay, terroir-driven and from 5 different terroirs across the Cape.
Pauline & Hanneke
Vino pH began as a project between Pauline Roux and Hanneke Krüger, driven by their love for Swartland and the Palomino grape. Hanneke now runs the winery from Piket-Bo-Berg, crafting pure, minimal-intervention wines full of energy, character and drinkability..
Wynand Grobler
The Kleine Wyn Koop is a project of Wynand & Anya Grobler and based in Tulbagh. Wynand is an extremely ambitious winemaker who was taught the “businesss” at various renowned wineries. The absolute focus lies on small batches of grapes from selected vineyards in the Western Cape. Everything is niche and their goal is perfection, high quality, nice packaging and a good story.
Albert Rousset
Incredible project of the French/Danish family Rousset who have their homebase on Mauritius. During one of their visits to South Africa they fell in love with the Elgin Valley and were highly impressed by the quality and potential of the South African wines. Today, they make impressive wines with grapes coming from Elgin Valley and Botrivier (Walker Bay).
Martin Lamprecht
Marras Wines by Martin Lamprecht stands for characterful wines that reflect the spirit of the Swartland. The vines in granite and slate-rich soils yield grapes with a rich character and a story of their own. Martin is driven by a passion for shared moments, authentic flavors, and the pleasure of good company around a braai.
Emil Weber
Dr. John Weber bought Springfontein in 1996 and is responsible together with his son Emil and his wife Jeanne. Jeanne Vito is the ‘vigneronne’, having grown up in Chablis. The soil is unique in the Cape, close to the cold ocean and rich in limestone. The farm has been certified organic since the 2018 harvest.
Irene de Fleuriot de la Coliniere
La Bri is a small high quality wine estate just outside Franschhoek where since 2009, Irene is the winemaker and responsible for over 13 hectares of vineyards. Although the emphasis is on the red wines don’t rule out the whites. With a small team of professionals one strives for the highest quality and attention is paid to every detail.
Attie Louw
Winemaker and owner Attie Louw is the 7th generation at the Opstal wine estate. A beautifully situated domain in Slanghoek Valley, part of the larger 'Breede Kloof' area. A wine valley where you did not have to go for quality wine in recent decades. But times have changed, Attie has also seen at Opstal that quality grapes can be harvested in Slanghoek Vallei. Attie makes a great selection of Chenin Blanc's but also 100% Semillon or Verdelho.
Sakkie Mouton
Sakkie Mouton Family Wines is a small unique independent wine company, started by Izak (Sakkie) Mouton in 2019 and located just outside Vredendal on the West Coast. The focus is on showing that you can make fantastic wines in this relatively unknown and somewhat "forgotten" wine region. The entire process happens with minimal intervention and “with respect to mother nature”.
Alex Millner
Natte Valleij is a historic Cape Dutch farm dating back to 1715 in Stellenbosch. Since reviving the old cellar in 2005, Alex Milner has focused on old vineyards and minimal intervention, with a special love for Cinsault, a grape deeply rooted in the Cape’s history.
Charles Williams
From left to right we see Albie Koch, Charles Williams and Martin Fourie. Albie has been involved with De toren since 1997 and was head winemaker for many years. However, since 2018 he has been managing director and has given Charles the responsibility. He is assisted by Martin Fourie, who has also been with De Toren for several years. A triumvirate that makes a series of stunning wines every year, wines that are benchmark Bordeaux blends from the Cape.
Samantha O'Keefe
Born in California and studied development studie with the idea of leading the World Bank one day. Not exactly the start of a story about a winemaker in South Africa. Still, this is about Samantha O'Keefe. She lost her heart to the nature of the Cape. With the help of several winemakers she started her wine estate in Greyton and now many years later she is a valued member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, her wines are internationally acclaimed and "her" Greyton is a Wine of Origen.
Philippe Colin
Philippe Colin is well known for his sought-after Burgundy wines. After a number of trips to South Africa, he falls head over heels in love with the country, its nature and the South African wine scene. So when in 2005, he gets the opportunity to take over Topiary, a small-scale winery near Wemmershoek in the Franschhoek Valley, he doesn’t have to think twice.
Sebastian Beaumont
Owner/winemaker Sebastian Beaumont of the eponymous wine estate located in Botriver is known for producing pure, organic wines from native grapes such as Chenin Blanc and Pinotage but also from the more international grapes as Shiraz and Mourvedre he is very skilled in making the most beautiful wines.
Jessica Sauerwein
Jessica Saurwein, born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Germany, found her home in South Africa. Since 2015 she has been making elegant Pinot Noir and Riesling from cool-climate vineyards in Elgin, Elandskloof and Hemel-en-Aarde, with finesse and energy. A promising newcomer at Cape Cru!.
Hannes Storm
Hannes Storm has been making his wines since 2012. He is the only winemaker who owns vineyards on the three different terroirs of the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and also makes single-vineyard wines from the various vineyards. Ridge is known for the clay-rich and stony character of its soil, Vrede has the same character but is located at a different altitude and the Ignis vineyard has a soil rich in granite.
Carolyn Martin
JC and Carolyn Martin started Creation in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in 2002. Despite being on uncharted territory, they believed in the potential. Since 2007, they have been producing quality wines, focusing on terroir, natural processes, and optimal grape quality.
Donovan Rall
Donovan is considered one of the best winemakers in Swartland and South Africa. Donovan has spread his vineyards across Swartland and the Western Cape. He rents mostly old vineyards. As little intervention as possible is done in both the vineyards and the cellar. You can even describe the wines as “vin nature”, but Donovan prefers not to say this. His entire approach to vineyards and nature is organic/natural.
Dani Carinus
Carinus Family Vineyards is a small but high quality winery situated along the Polkadraai Road in Stellenbosch. The Chenin Blanc wines are made from grapes picked from the Swartland vineyards. A lot of subtleties and a wide pallet of exotic fruit tones. The blue grapes for the Carinus Syrah are from the homebase in Polkadraai.
Nico Grobler
La Brune is a small, high quality winery situated in the heart of Elgin. During many of his visits to Burgundy, owner/winemaker Nico Grobler, got very much in love with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The cool-climate of Elgin is the perfect basis to produce, pure, elegant, refined wines with a lot of depth.
Rob & Chris Boustred
“We would like people who drink our wines to experience the estate, our soils, our slopes, our vines and our terroir. Wine should be experienced and not merely drunk and we endeavour to make every bottle of our wine a memorable experience” according to Chris Boustred, winemaker of this family estate at the foot of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch. A range of wonderful, pure wines made with respect for mother nature.
Alex Starey
Keermont is located between Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. These mountains form a natural amphitheatre with their own microclimate for the vineyards with an altitude between 250-400 meters above sea level. Already since 2005, Alex Starey is the cellarmaster. High end red and white wines and an outstanding dessert wine Fleurfontein!.
Kevin Bruwer
Raats is a family business where everyone pitches in: Bruwer makes the wine, his father and brother manage the vineyards, and his wife handles the administration. Focusing on two grape varieties and 25 hectares of vineyards, they strive for top quality through careful selection.
Tyrrel & Philip Myburgh
In 1999 the brothers Myburgh resumed traditional winemaking at the Joostenberg farm which was founded in the late 1600’s. It’s a family-owned and managed farm producing an exclusive range of wines. They place special emphasis on individuality and natural, organic winemaking.
Lukas van Loggerenberg
Lukas van Loggerenberg uses Zandwijk Farm in Paarl as his homebase. He mainly works with grapes picked from older vineyards in Stellenbosch and Swartland. Emphasis is on pureness, elegancy, well-balanced and wonderful aromas. Brilliant range of wines.
Jean Smit
With Damascene it’s the pursuit of excellence, the spirit of discovery and the desire to preserve nature. The former winemaker of A.A. Badenhorst and Boekenhoutskloof quickly belongs to the new favorites from the Cape, making vineyard specific world-class wines.
Elizma Visser
Olifantsberg is the winery of the Dutch Paul Leeuwerik in the Breedekloof. The Breedekloof wine region is known for its simple wines, but thanks to Paul's investments and Elizma's passion and drive, the quality has increased rapidly. Very exciting, spectacular and elegant wines from Chenin Blanc (blend) and Rhône varieties are the result of all their efforts.
P.J. Geyer
P.J. Geyer is the winemaker of the newest project at Hemel-en-Aarde, Thamnus Wines. He is regarded as an experienced “flying winemaker” and boutique producer focusing on cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Thamnus owns a total of 1,500 hectares of land, of which only 10 hectares are planted with vines. The primary goal is to produce the very best Burgundy outside of France.
Mariette Stofberg
Mariëtte Stofberg-Coetzee's winery and vineyards are located in the beautiful Breedekloof. She is the owner/winemaker of Belle Rebelle. Miss Chenin, with no fewer than five different ones. But also a great MCC, wood-aged Pinot Blanc and affordable Shiraz.
Niels Verburg
Winemaker Niels Verburg is of Dutch descent: his parents are Dutch. The Luddite farm is located in the Bot River region, between Elgin and Hermanus. It falls under the Walker Bay ward and is relatively cool because it is a few kilometers from the ocean. Penny, Niels' wife, takes care of the vineyard. Daughter Alice has been helping in the cellar since the 2018 harvest.
Xander Sadie
One of the youngest winemakers in the Cape and since 2024 responsibl, responsible with Shanice duPreez, for all wines at Brookdale in Paarl. He has completed internships in many places around the world and certainly has a great future ahead of him.
Chris & Andrea
Pure wines from Swartland. Chris and Andrea Mullineux work together to naturally create wines that reflect the Swartland terroir. They are perhaps the most talented young winemakers of the moment!
Duncan Savage
Duncan is a traditional winemaker, who therefore also uses traditional winemaking methods in the cellar. He not only works with stainless steel tanks, but also with oak barrels and clay amphorae. His cellar is in Cape Town.
Johan Kruger
Johan Kruger is an enthusiastic and highly skilled winemaker. In 2005 he was awarded Young South African Winemaker of the Year. He chooses to work only with grapes from the cool-climate regions of South Africa, which he purchases from grape growers who share his values and philosophy. Johan’s wines are all about freshness, elegance and balance.
Angus Paul
Angus is a promising young winemaker with a lot of experience, including at Mullineux, Alheit and Reyneke. He makes no natural wines with a lot of excitement. His focus is on Pinotage, Chenin blanc and 'Heritage grapes' like Cinsault
Adi Badenhorst
Adi is perhaps one of the most striking and idiosyncratic winemakers in South Africa. He is definitely one of the pioneers of the Swartland region, founder of Swartland Revolution and Swartland Indepented.
John Seccombe
John founded Thorne and Daughters Wines in 2012 with his wife Tasha to produce authentic wines in the beautiful Western Cape they have made their home.
David Trafford
A beautiful pioneering wine estate in the middle of nowhere. Welcome to SIJNN. Alongside the Breede River the vineyards are known for being very poor and very stony. Combined with low rainfall this challenging project shows that it can be done. Absolutely amazing work.
Newton Johnson
Gordon has a 'state of the art' winery, almost one hundred percent based on the effect of gravity. This means that the pumps hardly need to be used, which is important for making refined, elegant wines.
David & Nadia
This absolute dream team from the Swartland is one of the most highly regarded. Keeping both feet on the ground they keep improving on making wines that are very sought-after and enjoyed all around the world.
Chris Alheit
Chris and Suzaan Alheit are two extremely passionate winemakers who have belonged to the “Grand Cru” category of South Africa with their Alheit Vineyards from day 1. The Chenin Blanc grapes mainly come from old plots in Swartland and the Sémillon comes from Franschhoek.
Sam Lambson
The new kid on the block! Sam Lambson of Minimalist Wines interned with well-known winemakers at a young age during his studies. His focus is on making quality wines with minimal intervention.
Stephanie & Etienne
Stephanie & Etienne started Thistle & Weed in 2015. The name is inspired by the weeds that grow on the various vineyards in the Western Cape region. They work so much biologically-biodynamically in the vineyard and cellar.
Eben Sadie
Eben is already seen as one of South Africa's most important winemakers. He saw the potential of the Swartland region and started The Sadie Family Wines in 2000. The wines have given the region its face.