Gabriëlskloof Wines

The Gabriëlskloof cellar was designed to allow the modern equipment to handle the grapes with all the care of traditional wine-making methods.

This is where winemaker Kobie Viljoen works his magic.

Kobie believes in making good, honest wines that offer amazing value. You’ll find no oak chips or staves in his cellar, only small oak barrels that gently age the wines.

He strives to capture the individual flavours and personality of Bot River in his wines, which he believes are going to be a force to be reckoned with.

The Gabriëlskloof vineyards are isolated and protected from contamination, making them disease and virus-free.

We couldn’t have asked for a better microclimate: cool sea breezes give us an extended ripening period so that we can harvest at lower sugar levels.

The valley’s dry climate ensures that the grapes achieve a lovely fruity intensity. It also keeps our yields down, again making sure each grape we pick pulls its weight in the wine-making process.

The rolling hills and valleys have a mixture of Kouebokkeveld shale and Table Mountain sandstone. The shale gives the wines their rich, fruity body and the sandstone is responsible for a minerality and flintiness that add to their structure.

We’ve carefully planned our vineyards and selected the vines to match the terroir – concentrating on producing a tight range. Fortunately we have such a choice of terroir that we can find a spot for even the most demanding of varietals. Currently established are Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier, Mourvèdre, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir and Malbec.