Winesoundtrack - South Africa

The Doolhof, nestled in a tranquil valley near Bainskloof Pass in Wellington, South Africa, offers award-winning wine estate views. The Cape Dutch Manor House has six luxurious rooms, with a separate thatched cottage for added privacy. Guests enjoy comfort, discreet service, and stunning mountain and vineyard scenery. The Doolhof Country House serves imaginative cuisine and offers facilities like a pool, hiking and biking trails, e-bike rentals, and wine tasting, picnic’s and more.The Country House is available for private functions. Nestled at the foot of Bainskloof Pass in Wellington, the exclusive Estate is set on 380 hectares of vineyard, forest and fynbos and is surrounded by three dramatic mountain ranges. The Kromme River, which is supplemented by water from “Gawie se Water” runs through the Estate and is a major natural attraction. We invite our guests to experience the mystical Doolhof Valley. Entering the romantic country road leading into the Estate, guests are surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery, vineyards and mysterious forests.

With many vintages in Burgundy Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is my absolute passion but its more of an obsession. Myself and Christelle dreamt early on about producing our own Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We started out very small with purchasing 1Ton of Pinot Noir from the Elgin Valley. 1 Ton became 2 and 2 became 4. One Pinot Noir became 2 Pinot Noirs and we had this beautiful little business suddenly and we felt this is a oppertunity in life that you can’t pass on. In 2020 we took on La Brune fulltime and we haven’t looked back since. Coolclimate Elgin has always been the dream and we were able to purchased our farm in Elgin Valley in 2020 with no trustfunds or investors we just had a beautiful dream, guts and determination that made sense to our banker! Our philosophy is producing wines with sense of place. Wines that showcases where the vines grow and to carry all the character of the influences of the land. Hence this philosophy is followed in how treat our vines but also how we approach the winemaking process. Minimum intervention is key and we allow the wines to follow their paths we just try to give them the correct advice at certain times. High density plantings is something I am very passionate about and we are very priviliged to have one of the highest density Pinot Noir blocks planted on La Brune at 10 000 vines/ Ha and also in 2024 we planted the highest density Chardonnay block in SA (until I am proven otherwise) also at 10 000 vines/ Ha. This is important for the future of our wines and we will continue to introduce more high density Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on the farm ... real ElginBurgundians!

Since its launch in 2006, The Mentors range has established itself as one of the most sought-after premium brands in the South African wine landscape. Built around a philosophy of expressing terroir and pioneering new wines and wine-making techniques, it’s a portfolio that showcases the founding philosophy of KWV, and the rich history and depth of expertise at one of South Africa’s leading wine producers. The insights and boundary-breaking approach from this unique cellar, often home to post-graduate oenology students trialling pioneering new winemaking techniques, lead to remarkable terroir-driven wines that deserved their own spotlight. Though the first wines were bottled in 2006, it was in 2009 that The Mentors range took flight.  Situated on the outskirts of Paarl, the vast KWV production cellars are, at 24 hectares, the largest single winery in the southern hemisphere, producing upwards of 15 million litres of wine each year. Yet hidden away beneath the sea of warehouse roofs and rows of massive fermentation tanks you’ll find a special corner of this award-winning cellar; a tiny space of small tanks and hand-labelled barrels. This is the home of The Mentors. So, who are the mentors behind our name? They are all the teachers, the people over the centuries of winemaking who have brought us to where we are today.  All the skill and the knowledge that has been passed on from one generation to the next has resulted in what is today’s The Mentors. Our team’s visionary approach and exceptional craftmanship today is a culmination of this collective, deep understanding of terroir and winemaking.The Mentors is about human ability. About having the insight to recognize what Mother Nature is providing in each unique vineyard, in a specific harvest, and to have the curiosity to find the best way to express its distinct qualities.

This fortitude has been cultivated since 1918, when KWV first started trading. Today, this strength has been fortified more than 100 years over. KWV launched the premium wine brand, Cathedral Cellar, to vividly capture and illustrate KWV’s historical bond with the South African wine industry, while actively show casing its present reverence and future relevance. This wine portfolio’s brand home is the ‘heart and pulse’ of KWV’s cellar activities - its impressive cellar, with spectacularly high-vaulted domes, reminiscent of a grand cathedral - was completed in 1930 and aptly named ‘Cathedral Cellar’. Here, the story of South Africa’s history comes to life on impressive 3-meter ‘stukvats’ – on which artists have carved various impressions of the historical moments that have given shape to the industry as it stands presently. Honouring the artists who have added their voice to the memory of South Africa’s wine industry, the Cathedral Cellar winemaking team equally approaches winemaking as a form of art: captivating audiences with a range of award-winning wines, which include the Cathedral Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Cathedral Cellar Shiraz, Cathedral Cellar Triptych (a red blend), Cathedral Cellar Chardonnay, Cathedral Cellar Sauvignon Blanc and Cathedral Cellar Pinotage.

The farm was purchased in 2001 and the first vines planted in 2002 after a radical career change. A project which began as a conventional agricultural journey has evolved into an inseparable part of myself. I remain convinced that the Biodynamic method of farming which promotes a respectful relationship between plant, human, animal and soil can better preserve that complex and fragile concept we call Terroir- which is the vital difference between wine that is a commodity and wine that is an experience in all its challenges and confrontations. I think art counts even in vineyards. Solace and One Man Band are accurate expressions of my philosophy that farming is the coal face of wine production and my reluctance to use any synthetic or systemic products on Brocha is in direct line with my attempt to produce intelligent and resilient vines which can weather the vagaries of climate and weather and to offer the consumer access to wines which are sincere and genuinely representative of site and season without the interference and gloss offered by outside inputs and clever techniques and chemical residues. Werner Muller makes these wines with extreme dedication and intelligence.

Almenkerk Wine Estate, situated in the cool-climate Elgin region of South Africa, is a family-owned estate dedicated to crafting exceptional wines with precision and passion. Founded in 2004 by Joris and Natalie van Almenkerk, the estate represents a harmonious blend of their Belgian heritage and the distinctive terroir of South Africa.Almenkerk is, at its heart, a family affair. Joris, originally a law graduate, discovered his love for winemaking during a harvest in Stellenbosch and has since become a masterful vintner known for his meticulous attention to detail. Natalie, with her background in business management and communications, is the vibrant custodian of the Almenkerk brand, guiding its evolution with grace and creativity.

Elgin Vintners, a partnership of farmers in the area who entered into grape-growing and wine-making, was one of the early players in what grew into a small, but significant industry, over the next decade.

Established 1693, the Leeuwenkuil estate is one of the earliest wine farms in the region. The name Leeuwenkuil is from Dutch heritage, meaning “Lion’s Lair” – named for the place where the regal Cape  Lion once roamed the farm. Situated at the Southern-most tip to the Swartland, Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards is family owned by the 7th generation Dreyer Family. With intense focus on vineyard cultivation they own over 1250 ha of vineyards, making Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards the largest acreage of vines owned by one family in the Cape Coastal region. Only the finest 1% ‘cream’ of our production is crafted to perfection for our Leeuwenkuil ranges: Classic,  Reserve & Heritage. All our ranges are Fair for Life, IPW & vegan friendly and 100% focused on Swartland Wine of Origin, because this is where the original Leeuwenkuil farm is situated, at the Southern-most tip of the Swartland wine region. Proudly W.O. Swartland,  their wine-making philosophy is about creating uncompromisingly honest, natural wines, in a restrained style that reflects the unique character of the Swartland. UNCOMPROMISING RESPECT FOR PROVENANCEAt Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards we’re committed to continue 7 generations of proud wine-making tradition in a better, more sustainable future. We believe in long-term partnerships with Place, People and Prosperity. With a deep respect for provenance, we create uncompromisingly honest, natural wines, in a restrained style, that is true to the character of our region. Through intense focus on premium vineyard production, and the finest vinification technology, we make intriguingly honest, terroir-driven Swartland Chenin Blanc & Syrah, to share our heritage, family values & the unique character of the Swartland with the world.

The first vines were planted in October of 2001, and has since then been farmed organicly .Org de Rac is a Organic farm and cellar , in the Swartland region . We have Fairtrade accredetation and Wieta . We continiously produce top quality organic wines , that compete with the rest of the South African market .

Traditionally, the mastery of a tailor is judged by their ability to craft bespoke garments without the need for precise measurements. Instead, they delicately balance precision and intuition, trusting in their expert eye above all else. The Rock of Eye cannot be taught; it can only be earned through perseverance, passion, and practice.At Rock of Eye, we embrace this same philosophy in our winemaking.After three decades spent honing his expertise locally and abroad, award-winning winemaker Coenie Snyman returned to his hometown of Stellenbosch, South Africa’s historic wine region. Here, he interprets the unique terroir of the region to produce investment-grade wines that are a harmonious blend of science and art, imbued with the spirit of the harvest and the passion of a master craftsman.

Regarded as one of the leading ulffa-premium producers of Cabernet Sauvignon, our vision is to craft the ultimate expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stellenbosch Winelands of South Africa. Founded and managed by the Le Riche Family, we exclusively select and source only the highest-quality fruit, from unique vineyards, grown by long-term, established farmers. At the core ofthis is an inherent knowledge and respect of terroir, in particular the soil, and a winemaking ethos that is traditionally simplistic yet innovative.

Aslina Wines was founded by Ntsiki Biyela who is the Winemaker and Director of the company in 2016. Biyela named Aslina Wines in honour of her late grandmother, Aslina. She grew up in Mahlabathini, a rural village in KwaZulu Natal, where she matriculated from high school in 1996. Having spent a year as a domestic worker, she was awarded a scholarship through South African Airways to study winemaking at the University of Stellenbosch in 1999. She graduated in 2003 with a BSc in Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) and joined Stellekaya, a boutique winery, as their Winemaker in 2004. We have a ranged of 6 premium wines; a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, skin-contact Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Umsasane (Bordeaux-style blend) and our MCC. We have recently opened our tasting room at Unit 1, Ground Floor, Building 4, Alberto Drive, Devonbosch Bottelary Road, Stellenbosch, 7605 South Africa. We are currently operating on an appointments only basis.

Alto Wine Estate is the oldest red wine only estate in South Africa with a history dating back to 1919. The first wine was made in 1922 which would become the prototype for the much loved Alto Rouge red blend that we enjoy today. A wine that encapsulates our terroir of excellence aswell as our heritage and traditions. We are proud to celebrate the extraordinary milestone of the release of our 100th consecutive vintage of Alto Rouge in September 2024.We produce a small and curated selection of wine including our Alto Rouge red blend, single varietal Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, Flagship Estate Blend and our limited edition M.P.H.S (the name is an acronym of our previous winemakers intials Manie Malan, Piet du Toit, Hempies du Toit and Schalk van der Westhuizen). We have only had 5 winemakers in over 100 years with two of them being father and son combinations, a feat unrivalled by many wine estates. Alto is situated in the heart of the so ‘Golden Triangle’ in Stellenbosch, South Africa and the farm’s position on the warmer northern slopes of the Helderberg make it ideally suited to red wine production. And yet the diversity of the farm allows for enormous complexity in the vineyards. Planted largely on soils of decomposed granite, the vineyards range in altitude from 100 to 500 metres above sea level. While generous late- afternoon sunshine guarantees concentration and colour in the grapes, the cooling sea breezes blowing in off nearby False Bay lengthen the hanging time on the vine to ensure phenolic ripeness an

As any wine lover would attest to, not all wines are created equal. The realm of boutique wines caters to those wine lovers who take their enjoyment of wine seriously and who delight in the wonderful flavours and aromas that a skilled boutique winemaker is able to create. Welcome to the world of Mitre’s Edge Wine Estate. Family-owned and managed boutique winery, Mitre’s Edge, is nestled at the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain, between Paarl and Stellenbosch. It is in this beautiful setting that winemaker Lola Nicholls, assisted by husband Bernard, focuses on producing relatively smaller quantities of high-quality, award-winning wines. In 1999 Bernard and Lola took over the farm from Lola’s father, Martin Hunting, who had farmed there since 1969. Bernard threw caution to the wind and changed his career from mechanical engineer to wine farmer. Lola’s passion for Bordeaux wines led to the replanting of the old Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards with newer clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Shiraz was also planted, and to complement their wine list with white wines, some Chenin Blanc and Viognier vines were also planted. Our viticultural consultant is Danie Kritzinger from Agrimotion, and our vineyards are personally cared for by Bertus de Clerk and his expert team. This skilled attentiveness extends into the cellar, where our wines are hand-crafted by Lola, ensuring that every vintage is memorable and of an impeccable standard.

Carefully curated environmentally, socially and economically sustainable wines that offer the ethically conscious consumer a wholly satisfactory sensory experience.

French flair and South African determination have long been intertwined in the fabric of the Cape, a camaraderie spanning centuries, each contributing to the rich and respected fine wine legacy of South Africa. Le Chant embodies this enduring wine relationship, marrying Old World heritage with the contemporary New World. Our mutual efforts are etched by passion to bring forth exceptional wines which are classical, distinctive and pure. The striding Rooster has for many a decade been the personification of French flair. It is when the Rooster is bursting in song (Le Chant), that it reveals its exuding confidence, pride, and determination to the world. It is these shared characteristics, entwined with South African resilience, that has brought our like-minded proprietors into unison of song and wine. Between False Bay and Le Chant’s vineyards are only gently rolling hills – nothing to impede the progress of the sea breezes inland. Le Chant is sited on what was formerly four separate properties, the centre of which was known as Eikenhof, a wine farm in Stellenbosch’s Polkadraai Hills.The terroir is characterised by gently rolling hills of varying elevations between 220 and 280m above sea level. The slopes face predominantly south and southwest, which exposes them to the cooling sea breezes of predominantly False Bay and, when conditions are right, Table Bay. Hailing from the Polkadraai region, this signature blend takes the lead from Merlot while harmonising classic Bordeaux varieties with Shiraz and Sangiovese. The result is an intriguingly vibrant wine that lingers on the palate, capable of ageing for another 8 to 10 years. Because of the microclimate that arises from the combination of the breezes and the aspect, and long ripening period, Le Chant’s grapes retain their acidity, which reflects as an edgy acid tension. Making wines that embody origin is the ultimate outcome we strive for. We also respect nature and the preservation thereof. The Le Chant team brings together several people with a proven track record for wine excellence and a passion for the land and wine without compare. The Oddo family; a fifth-generation vigneron from the Polkadraai, Willie Joubert, who manages the farm; technical director Schalk-Willem Joubert, a seasoned and highly-acclaimed figure in the Cape Winelands; and winemaker Petri Venter, whose youth and enthusiasm both inspires and galvanises the cellar team. A shared passion for great wine is what drives this collective, to bring wines of the Polkadraai to homes globally. If not traversing mountainous trails or swimming from Robben Island to the mainland, Petri Venter can be found plying his trade in the belly of our cellar. Having grown up surrounded by the great vineyards of Stellenbosch, it was with ease that a path was etched out into a career of winemaking. Following the completion of his B.Sc degree in viticulture and Oenology, Petri gained working experience in both South Africa and France.He then settled into a permanent winemaking role at the iconic Taaibosch Wine estate, where he has been the assistant to Schalk-Willem Joubert for three years. With the development of Le Chant wines in the Polkadraai region, by the Oddo Family, Petri was a natural choice to lead the new winemaking direction.

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.