The Sadie Family Wines
Eben Sadie spent the first early part of his career bouncing between hemispheres, working with iconoclastic, terroir-driven winemakers in an era when Wine Advocate and the Parker 100-point score was the ultimate prize. He returned to South Africa in 1997 with the intention to stay, and settled in the Swartland, where he had previously worked with Spice Route.
His first vintage of his red blend, Columella, in 1999, was followed a few years later by the 2002 Palladius white. These two wines cemented his reputation for world-class wines made with sensitivity and precision.
The first `ouwingerd`, single-vineyard wine from a very old site, was Mev. Kirsten in 2006. Other sites followed, each a carefully selected example of the rich viticultural heritage of South Africa. Since 2022 this range has been renamed `Distriktreeks`, District Series.
His methods have changed significantly over the years - like all of the best winemakers, he is constantly learning and refining his practices. These days he is mostly in the vineyards, with Paul Joordan as his winemaker - although Paul left in 2024, and Eben`s son Markus is in the cellar for the 2025 vintage. No doubt, we trust, with extensive oversight from his dad. (JH 08/05/25)
His first vintage of his red blend, Columella, in 1999, was followed a few years later by the 2002 Palladius white. These two wines cemented his reputation for world-class wines made with sensitivity and precision.
The first `ouwingerd`, single-vineyard wine from a very old site, was Mev. Kirsten in 2006. Other sites followed, each a carefully selected example of the rich viticultural heritage of South Africa. Since 2022 this range has been renamed `Distriktreeks`, District Series.
His methods have changed significantly over the years - like all of the best winemakers, he is constantly learning and refining his practices. These days he is mostly in the vineyards, with Paul Joordan as his winemaker - although Paul left in 2024, and Eben`s son Markus is in the cellar for the 2025 vintage. No doubt, we trust, with extensive oversight from his dad. (JH 08/05/25)
