South Africa's Organic Wines

Certified Organic Wines

Organic wines come from grapes that are organically-grown, avoiding the use of synthetic, chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. Organic farming involves maintaining healthy soils, using only natural products and nurturing the organisims that contribute to the good health of the vineyards.

Biodynamic farming involves organically-grown grapes but also takes into account the cycles of the moon and the planets, e.g. planting and harvesting according to the lunar calendar. While the use of compost, manure, crop diversification and the incorporation of livestock can apply to both organic and biodynamic farming, the latter involves eight specific preparations to enhance soil and plant quality that are made from cow manure, silica, the flowers of yarrow, chamomile, dandelion and valerian, as well as oak bark and the stinging nettle plant. Sometimes a ninth preparation is used, one that is made from horsetail…

Vegan wines can include organic and biodynamic wines, but not necessarily. The difference has to do with the fining agents used to clarify wine prior to bottling, some of which are animal products. Certain wines are unfined, unfiltered, and there are producers – including a number without organic certification – who assure customers that their wine does not come into contact with anything from the animal kingdom. For a directory of South Africa’s vegan-friendly wines, click here.

The following South African cellars offer one or more, if not all of their wines officially certified as organic – although some choose not to indicate as much on their labels. Reyneke of Stellenbosch is currently the only SA cellar with wines in their portfolio that are officially certified as biodynamic. Just click on the links for more info about these wineries, and for info about the industry association Organic Wines South Africa, click here.

AVONDALE

Lustigan Road, Klein Drakenstein, Paarl
• All Wines Organic

CANETSFONTEIN

Bovlei Road, Bovlei Valley, Wellington
• Cliffhanger 1781 (Bordeaux-Style Red Blend)
• Cliffhanger Red Blend
• Cliffhanger Rosé

JOOSTENBERG

Hoopenberg Road, Muldersvlei, Paarl
• Joostenberg Bakermat (Red Blend)
• Joostenberg Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest
• Joostenberg Die Agteros Chenin Blanc
• Joostenberg Fairhead (White Blend)
• Joostenberg Family Blend (Red)
• Joostenberg Klippe Kou Syrah
• Joostenberg Philip Albert Cabernet Sauvignon
• Niu Methode Cap Classique

KLEIN AMOSKUIL

Kalbaskraal Road, Malmesbury, Swartland
• Amos Block Sauvignon Blanc
• Bok Amok Bush Vine Grenache
• Die Nagmuis Bush Vine Syrah
• Tarentaal Kwaal Bush Vine Mourvèdre

KUSAFIRI

Voor Paardeberg, Paarl
• All Wines Organic

LADYBIRD

R44, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
• All Wines Organic

LAZANOU

Olifantskop Road, Wellington
• All Wines Organic

LEOPARD’S LEAP

R45 (Main Road), Franschhoek
• Natura Range

LONGRIDGE

Helderberg Road (off R44), Stellenbosch
Most Longridge Wines are organic:
• Blanc de Blanc Cap Classique NV
• Brut Rosé Cap Classique NV
• Brut Vintage Reserve Cap Classique
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chardonnay
• Chenin Blanc
• Clos du Ciel Chardonnay
• Edelgoud (Sweet Botrytis, Sauvignon Blanc)
• Ekliptika (Bordeaux-Style Red Blend)
• Maandans Pinotage
• Merlot
• Misterie Merlot
• Ou Steen Chenin Blanc
• Pinotage
• Reserve Chardonnay
• The Emily NV (Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend)
Most Jasper Raats Wines are organic:
• Concrete & Clay (Chardonnay)
• Cuvée Rika Pinot Noir
• Cuvée Rika Pinot Noir Reserve
• Driefontein Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc)
• Driefontein Syrah
• Olindo Verdelho

NATIVO

Morreesberg Road, Malmesbury, Swartland
• All Wines Organic

NOBLE HILL

Klapmuts-Simondium Road, Simonsberg-Paarl
• All Wines Organic

ORG DE RAC

N7, Piketberg, Swartland
• All Wines Organic

RADFORD DALE

Off Applestiser Road, Elgin
Radford Dale Organic Estate Range
• Freedom Pinot Noir
• Higher Purpose Cabernet Franc
• Revelation Semillon
• Touchstone Chardonnay

REYNEKE

Polkadraai Road, Stellenbosch
• Reyneke Biodynamic Chenin Blanc
• Reyneke Biodynamic Sauvignon Blanc
• Reyneke Biodynamic Syrah
• Reyneke Organic Chenin Blanc
• Reyneke Organic Cornerstone (Cabernets Franc & Sauvignon)
• Reyneke Organic Sauvignon Blanc
• Reyneke Organic Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon
• Reyneke Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
• Reyneke Reserve Red (Shiraz)
• Reyneke Reserve White (Sauvignon Blanc)

SILVERMIST

Constantia Nek
• All Wines Organic

SOLARA

Langverwachting Road, McGregor
• All Wines Organic

SOPHIE GERMANIER

Sonop Farm, Voor Paardeberg, Paarl
• All Wines Organic

SPIER

Baden Powell Road, Vlottenburg-Stellenbosch
• Farmer Angus Chenin Blanc
• Farmer Angus Red Blend
• Farmer Angus Rosé
• First Stone Organic Red
• Good Natured Chenin Blanc
• Good Natured Sauvignon Blanc
• Good Natured Shiraz

SPRINGFONTEIN

Wortelgat Road, Stanford
• All Wines Organic

STARK-CONDÉ

Oude Nektar Farm, Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch Vredendal
• Stark-Condé Field Blend (White Blend)
• Stark-Condé Monk Stone Chenin Blanc
• Stark-Condé Round Mountain Sauvignon Blanc
• Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon
• Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Petite Syrah
• Stark-Condé Stellenbosch Syrah
• Stark-Condé Three Pines Cabernet Sauvignon
• Stark-Condé Three Pines Syrah