The release of the 2025 white wines from Cavalli celebrates the latest chapter in the re-positioning of the Smith family’s estate in the Helderberg. Over the past five years, and particularly since the appointment of acclaimed Cape Winemaker’s Guild member Rianie Strydom in 2023, the team’s focus on precision, site expression and pedigree has evolved to the point where the property is becoming one of the most compelling voices in this area of the Stellenbosch winelands.
Cavalli aims to produce intriguing and sustainable wines of such superior quality as to count among the Helderberg benchmarks. The focus falls on the varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and, in terms of the white wines, on Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Verdelho. Cavalli’s signature white blend defines the house style: poised, textured and complex. It represents the culmination of careful vineyard selection and thoughtful blending in the winery, balancing vibrancy with depth.
As one of the Cavalli flagships, the Reserve White exemplifies a winemaking philosophy rooted in meticulous vineyard management, restraint in the cellar and a deep respect for the Helderberg’s unique maritime-influenced terroir. “Our focus has always been simple,” says Strydom. “To craft wines that are elegant, structured, and reflective of where they come from. The Helderberg gives us incredible fruit purity and natural balance, and our role is to guide that expression with as little interference as possible.”
The Cavalli Reserve White has been a success from the outset, with the first couple of vintages warmly received and the latest release ranking as one of South Africa’s finest Chenin-led Cape blends. Best Overall in the 2026 Prescient Cape White Blend Report published by Winemag.co.za, the 2025 achieved an outstanding rating of 95 points, following Top 10 rankings and scores of 93/100 for the 2023 and 2024.
A combination of 60% Chenin Blanc, 30% Verdelho and 10% Chardonnay, the 2025 was made from a selection of the estate’s finest vineyard parcels, barrel-fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak, of which 30% comprised new, 300L, Burgundy-style barrels. The first month in wood allowed for the completion of fermentation (including ±30% malolactic), with nine months spent on the lees. The result: aromas of citrus blossom, flint, white stone fruit and yellow apple, layered with notes of brioche, wood spice and grapefruit, all lifted by a soft, refreshing acidity. Alc 13.24%, RS 1.7g/l, TA 6.5g/l, pH 3.18. Total production: 6500 bottles. R310pb ex-cellar.
Cellarmaster Strydom describes the 2025 vintage as: “A reflection of patience, precision, and truly listening to what the vineyards are giving us. To see these wines recognised so early in their journey is both humbling and deeply rewarding.”
Article sponsored by Cavalli Estate