ABOUT US
The History
THE OCEAN IS BEHIND YOU.
THE MOUNTAIN IS CALLING.
THE MOUNTAIN IS CALLING.
Just 4.5 kilometres from the Atlantic, on the cool, coastal edge of the Stellenbosch wine region, something extraordinary awaits. Climb the ravine (a ‘kloof’ in Afrikaans) — past a trickling spring, wild fynbos and cascading flowers — and the landscape opens into a hidden amphitheatre that feels like it was made for one purpose alone.
Here, the vines struggle and strive. Whipped by wind, kissed by sun, cooled by ocean breezes. They yield little — but what they do give is extraordinary. Fruit of intense concentration, natural balance, and an unmistakable sense of place.
This is Waterkloof: Just under 100hectares of prime vineyard intertwined with a further 100 hectares of thriving WWF Conservation Champion certified biodiversity. Regenerative. Alive. Uncompromising. A wine estate shaped entirely by the forces of nature — and devoted entirely to expressing them.
MINIMAL INTERVENTION WINEMAKING
Since our first vintage in 2005, this unique vineyard has informed our winemaking approach.
Tiny yields – between 1 and 4 tonnes per hectare — produce grapes of such natural balance that our role is to guide them gently to the bottle. To protect, not to shape.
To allow the grapes to speak for themselves, nothing is added to the wine save a whisper of sulphur, helping to preserve the flavours we taste in the vineyard.
Our whites — Sauvignon, Chenin, Semillon and Viognier — are whole-bunch pressed with great care, coaxed into life slowly by wild yeast, and given a year to evolve further in old French oak.
Our Rosé — Mourvèdre — is treated seriously and made in the same, delicate, natural way as our slowly matured white wines.
Our Rhône reds — Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache — are also fermented with wild yeast, trodden by foot, whole-bunch, and left to rest on their skins for three to four unhurried weeks. Then they sleep. Two, sometimes three years in large old French oak, until they are ready.
Our Bordeaux reds — Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot — follow the same patient path but are de-stemmed and punched-down rather than trodden whole-bunch, then matured in both small (5-10% new) and large old French oak.
REGENERATIVE FARMING
Regenerative agriculture goes beyond sustainable farming by actively restoring ecosystems — improving soil health, biodiversity, water cycles, and carbon capture, rather than simply maintaining them.
At Waterkloof Estate, regenerative agriculture isn’t a philosophy — it’s a living, breathing commitment. Half the estate is a WWF Conservation Champion conservancy, nurturing one of Earth’s most precious biodiversity hotspots: the Cape Floristic Region. Here, over 100 indigenous flower species bloom alongside countless insects, birds all the way to predators such as caracal, the bat-eared fox and cape leopard.
The soil is fed each year with a minimum 300 tonnes of on-site compost, enriched by Nguni cattle, carefully selected cover crops, and earthworm-cast fertilisers.
Water from a natural fountain is recycled through a bio-reactor, vines are largely dry-farmed, and the award-winning winery runs on solar power.
Here, every choice honours the land that shapes our wines.
WINE SHOP
Buy our Wines
Wines of place. Wines of patience, that reward with balance, texture, length and increasing complexity over time.
Waterkloof
Single-estate wines of exceptional character, made only from our finest parcels in the most outstanding vintages.
Astraeus
Reserve Method Cap Classique — bubbles born of patience and precision.
Circumstance
Reflections of time and place through the lens of a single variety.
Circle Of Life
A holistic blend that breathes the full spirit of Waterkloof’s terroir and regenerative soul.
Seriously Cool
A luminous, chillable red made from Cinsault and a bright, refreshing white — made for sunshine and easy pleasure.
Beeskamp
Crafted exclusively for our hospitality partners — a celebration of the land’s regenerative story, in every glass.
CHORUS RESTAURANT
Fine dining that celebrates Waterkloof Wines
CHORUS opened at Waterkloof Wine Estate in Somerset West on the 18th of October 2022. CHORUS serves a seasonal five course menu.
Their focus is simple, focused, seasonal cooking, where the menu is dictated by ingredients. The wine list celebrates Waterkloof wines, as well as featured wines from other South African producers.
CHORUS TASTING LOUNGE
Taste the Wines of Premium Quality
At Chorus Tasting Lounge, the tasting experience is structured into six different wine tasting flights. Each flight is a curated set of wines from a specific range produced by Waterkloof Estate. The flights vary in style, exclusivity, and price range. If you get hungry, the lounge offers a small snack menu including cheese or charcuterie boards.
OSTERIA CHEESE BAR
The Cheese Experience Italian Style
Situated at the entrance of Waterkloof Estate, this authentic Italian Restaurant and Deli is a must visit. From midweek dinners to lazy weekend brunches, Osteria has you covered; with freshly made pasta and wood-fired sourdough pizzas. Here Italy meets South African soil and every plate tells a story of Puglia, Italy.
CONTACT US
Contact and
Wine Sales
Telephone: +27(0)21 858 1292
Fax: +27(0)21 858 1293
P.O Box Address: P.O Box 2093, Somerset West, 7129
Physical Address: Waterkloof, Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, Somerset West 7130, South Africa
Wine Sales Department
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