Dutch colonists began the South African wine industry over three hundred years ago, first vinifying wild grapes without very palatable results. This led to the importation of European vine cuttings and a premium wine resource was created midway through the 17th century. The wine-producing regions are clustered around the southern tip of Africa, kissed by a mild marine climate. White grape varietals were the initial vines, but Merlot and Pinotage (a local crossing of Cinsault and Pinot Noir) now earn prime vineyard attention. Chenin Blanc, native to France, has achieved its full taste potential here as a white. While ranking seventh in volume among the world’s wine producing nations, South Africa has only become prominent as an exporter in the past decade as trade embargoes lifted with the abolition of apartheid.

Grower cooperatives dominated South African wine production until recently, when small estates began to flourish with premium varietals aimed at the export market. Mitchell Wines inventory selections boast an optimum combination of quality and affordability.

Black Pearl
Black Pearl Wines is a winery owned and operated by the Nash family, who relocated from New Hampshire in 1995. We now find ourselves fervently making wine. The vineyard is on the western slope of Paarl Mountain, which is part of the Cape Floral kingdom. Above stretches renosterveld, of which only 2% remains in the country and which the family is conserving in this World Heritage area. Renosterveld is typically found in shale-derived soils that have a high clay content. Shale bases soils form over shale rock parent material developing from the deposition and compression of clay and silt in ancient inland lakes and seas.

Bob’s African
A for wine and love of Africa have come together in Bob’s AFRICAN, a range of fine wines from South Africa. 350 years after the first vines were planted, the wines of the Rainbow Nation are achieving international acclaim.

Why South Africa? In 1994, President Nelson Mandela invited the world to embrace the New South Africa. He discovered a 350-year old winemaking history (the eighth largest wine-producing country in the world), steeped in cultural diversity (eleven official languages), in one of the most significant biodynamic plant kingdoms in the world (the Cape Floral Kingdom).

He also witnessed one of the world’s largest humanitarian health crises unfolding: the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Although South Africa’s wine exports to the US grew 366% from 2001 to 2005, the number of AIDS orphans reached 1.2 Million and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in pregnant women topped 30%. His wines are a personal initiative to have a conversation with you about Africa.

Edgebaston
Inspired by his father's passion for being close to the vines and the land, David purchased the run down Stellenbosch farm Woodlands (a remainder of the original Edgebaston grant) in 2004. The Finlayson family has returned to its winemaking roots and David and his father have launched the Edgebaston range of wines from this property which boasts 29 hectares of vineyard. A small winery was put into operation in 2009, waving goodbye to the days of rented facilities. David's vision is to build a family operated, ultra premium wine operation focussing on the quality and personality of the wines in the bottle. David is married to Lizel and they have a budding winemaker and viticulturist respectively in daughter Daniella (who helps out after hours in the cellar despite being only eight years old) and son Callum (who believes that mud cakes are part of soil preparation).

Eventide Cellar
Eventide Cellar Wines are named after the farm, adjacent to Micha, bought by Andrew's grandfather, "Eventide". After their marriage John and Elizabeth decided to relocate and begin their family on the new farm, thus leaving Mischa to be utilised entirely for the processing of vines. With the success of the Mischa wine label, Andrew decided to begin an alternative brand , which he named after the farm where he grew up, Eventide.

Fat Barrel
After 13 years in the wine import and distribution business, Portland, Oregon-based entrepreneur Bob Lynde co-founded Fat Barrel Wine Company with long time friend, business partner and consultant Jessica Harrington in February 2007. Prior to launching Fat Barrel, Lynde and Harrington successfully founded a fine wine distribution company, Oregon Brokered Brands, which they sold to The Henry Wine Group in 2005. Lynde and Harrington have always believed the fine wine consumer is inherently interested in giving back to those less fortunate. And they believe that the wine industry can support the development of wine brands with philanthropic missions. Capitalizing on Lynde’s interest, passion for and industry connections in South Africa, Fat Barrel Wine Company’s initial brand release is BOB's AFRICAN, a value-priced range of South African wines. The Bob’s AFRICAN brand generates both awareness and funds for fighting the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.

Finlayson Family
Near the Southernmost point of Africa lies a valley named Hemel-en-Aarde (Heaven and Earth) framed by mountains and within sight of the ocean, with frost free, soft, beneficial weather and the most perfect clay shale vineyard soils...

Established in 1989, Bouchard Finlayson is a boutique winery dedicated to the making of Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc wines of outstanding quality.

Located in the wine ward of Walker Bay, an hour and a half from Cape Town, the 125-hectare property currently has 19 hectares under vines; the rest is mountain land, covered by the spectacular indigenous ‘fynbos’ flora of the Western Cape. With only a small portion of the farm under vine Bouchard Finlayson is able to ensure the conservancy of the mountain land.

Bouchard Finlayson’s flagship wine is the Galpin Peak Pinot Noir, which has won many an award and accolade. Growing on the slopes of Galpin Peak, repeated vintages of this path-blazing wine continue to reflect a true celebration of Pinot-crafting, consistently endorsing the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley as a jewel in the hunt for this illusive grape.

Bouchard Finlayson is renowned as one of South Africa’s top wineries and this can be attributed to their philosophy and focus to produce wines of the finest quality.

Mischa Estate
Information on this winery can be viewed here.

Painted Wolf
The Painted Wolf WIne Company is a new South African wine company which over the coming years will develop a fantastic premium wine brand - Painted Wolf. Painted Wolf was formed in mid 2007 by Jeremy and Emma Borg. Jeremy, who has had experience working with wine companies and brands in USA, UK and here in South Africa has a keen understanding of both wine production and the market. He set out to develop a company and wine brand which has a fresh different approach.