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