WITH THE 2020 addition of Chris Alheit and David Sadie, membership of the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) rose to 46 producers, whose names and those of the places they work at make for a list that in itself is a useful guide to much of the best from South Africa's wine cellars. You only get to be on this list if your craftsmanship has been recognised by your peers. Membership is by invitation only, and you must have been responsible for producing outstanding wines for at least five years.
Not that they represent everybody at the pinnacle of SA winemaking, but probably around 75%, and for sure, they've played a significant role in the development of the industry. The guild meets regularly as a technical tasting group, evaluating wines from around the world, sharing their knowledge and ideas with a view to remaining leaders in the art and science of winemaking.
The places given below are where the CWG members are based, which are not always where the grapes come from…
Alheit, Chris – Hemel-en-Aarde
Arnold, Kevin – Waterford, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Badenhorst, Adi – Malmesbury, Swartland
Beaumont, Sebastian – Bot River
Beeslaar, Abrie – Kanonkop, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
Borman, Jacques – Boschkloof, Polkadraai, Stellenbosch
Burger, Andries – Paul Cluver, Elgin
Eksteen, Bartho – Hemel-en-Aarde
Ellis, Warren – Neil Ellis, Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
Ferreira, Pieter – Graham Beck, Robertson
Finlayson, David – Edgebaston, Stellenbosch
Finlayson, Peter – Bouchard Finlayson, Hemel-en-Aarde
Finlayson, Peter-Allan – Crystallum, Walker Bay
Gerber, Boela – Groot Constantia
Grant, Kevin – Ataraxia, Hemel-en-Aarde
Grier, Jeff – Villiera, Koelenhof, Stellenbosch
Heyns, Dewaldt – Saronsberg, Tulbagh
Hopkins, Charles – De Grendel, Panorama/Durbanville
Jordan, Gary – Stellenbosch Kloof
Kent, Marc – Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek
Le Riche, Etienne – Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Loubser, John – Silverthorn, Robertson
Malan, Johan – Simonsig, Koelenhof, Stellenbosch
Mocke, Gottfried – Boekenhoutskloof, Franschhoek
Mossop, Miles – Stellenbosch
Mullineux, Andrea – Mullineux & Leeu, Riebeek Kasteel & Franschhoek
Nel, Carl – Boplaas, Calitzdorp
Newton Johnson, Gordon – Hemel-en-Aarde
Nieuwoudt, David – Cederberg
O’Keefe, Samantha – Lismore, Greyton, Overberg
Pretorius, JD – Warwick, Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
Raats, Bruwer – Polkadraai, Stellenbosch
Rall, Donovan – Malmesbury, Swartland
Sadie, David – David & Nadia, Malmesbury, Swartland
Savage, Duncan – Cape Town
Schultz, Carl – Hartenberg, Bottelary, Stellenbosch
Smit, Frans – Spier, Stellenbosch
Snyman, Coenie – Rust en Vrede, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Strydom, Louis – Ernie Els, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
Strydom, Rianie – Stellenbosch
Trafford, David – De Trafford, Upper Blaauwklippen, Stellenbosch
Truter, Beyers – Beyerskloof, Stellenbosch
Verburg, Niels – Luddite, Bot River
Vrey, Morné – Delaire Graff, Helshoogte, Stellenbosch
Wahl, Pierre – Rijk’s, Tulbagh
Walker, Jeremy – Grangehurst, Helderberg, Stellenbosch
