• DeMorgenzon

  • Hamilton Russell Vineyards

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    Change seems to be Anthony Hamilton Russell’s watchword. Since taking over from his father and company founder Tim in the early nineties he has changed the vines, the method of farming, and in conjunction with some stellar winemakers – the quality. Employees become so besotted with the valley and the opportunities that they leave to set up their own wineries, including Newton Johnson, Hannes Storm and Ataraxia; all seeded by Hamilton Russell.

  • Kanonkop

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    Kanonkop may be famous for its Pinotage but in my opinion it is the Bordeaux blends and varietals that are the jewels in the crown. The vineyards are right to the top of the Kanonkop hill and their altitude, exposure to sun and wind, and their climate are all superb.

    Noted south African Specialist Tim Atkin MW has Kanonkop firmly ensconced in the First Growth section of his Cape Classification. There are two main reasons for this, one is terroir. in the accepted sense of location, soils, climate and so on. The second is terroir with the addition of skilled human intervention.

  • Klein Constantia

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    In winemaking terms we think of South Africa as part of the New World, but Klein Constantia in the Western Cape has a longer history than most "Old" World estates. By the 19th century the sweet wine of Constance had become mythical; Napoleon drank it in exile on St. Helena, Jane Austen recommended it for "its healing powers on a disappointed heart", and Baudelaire compared it to his lover`s lips. So historical Vin de Constance may be, but mired in tradition it is not.

  • Lismore Estate

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    Former television executive Samantha O’Keefe left her native California and settled in South Africa in the early 2000s. Arriving with her two small children, she went ahead and bought a mountain. Her land is located in Greyton and she planted her first vines in 2004. Her choice of site seemed bizarre to many and she really is out on a limb when compared to the major wine producing areas in the country. However, her steadfastness and determination saw her small estate grow into something truly remarkable and she is now recognised as a pioneer for a new and exciting appellation.

  • Meerlust

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    In winemaking terms, South Africa gets bracketed with the New World, but they`ve been making wine here for longer than in many places in the so-called ‘Old World’. Meerlust Estate has been in the hands of the Myburgh family since 1756, and they`ve been making wine pretty much since then. While they used to make only single varietal wines, a ‘rubicon’ was crossed in 1980 with the first vintage of their Bordeaux blend, almost a first for South Africa. It hadn`t come from nowhere.

  • Rustenberg

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    Rustenberg has been a must-visit on any trip to the Cape since the late seventeenth century, yet while they hold their tradition and heritage close to their heart, they aren`t afraid to exploit the best of the modern in viticulture and cellar practice. They run their own nursery to avoid the common problem of commercial nursery`s selling you the wrong vines; everything is hand-harvested; and over the years site selection for each vine variety has been rigorously researched and fine-tuned.