Aaldering Vineyards & Wines

In the tranquil Devon Valley, just minutes from Stellenbosch but a world away from its bustle, Aaldering Vineyards occupies a 27-hectare estate that tells a distinctly Dutch story on South African soil. When Fons and Marianne Aaldering purchased the property in 2004, they arrived with a retirement dream: to drink wine made from their own grapes. What they found instead was a working farm whose fruit was already being used to craft award-winning wines by other producers — a discovery that changed the trajectory of their plans entirely.

For the first years, the Aalderings sold their harvest in bulk. But learning that their Devon Valley grapes were winning medals in other cellars proved irresistible. In 2007, Fons reserved enough fruit to produce the estate's first bottlings: 15,000 bottles each of Pinotage, Shiraz, and a Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend. The wines announced themselves with immediate confidence, and the Aaldering label was born.

The estate's winemaking is now led by Jaco Parson, who joined as assistant winemaker in 2016 and has since risen to senior winemaker. Parson's philosophy revolves around minimal intervention, allowing the distinctive Devon Valley terroir — characterised by deep, well-drained soils on gentle north-facing slopes — to express itself fully. The portfolio has expanded to include a refined Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, and the Lady M Bordeaux-style blend, alongside the original Pinotage and Shiraz that first established the farm's reputation. The Florence range offers an accessible entry point with blended whites and reds.

Beyond wine, the Aalderings have created one of the most refined accommodation experiences in the Stellenbosch winelands. Three five-star Dutch Cape-style luxury lodges sit in the heart of the working vineyard, each spanning 100 square metres with private terraces, fireplaces, antique furnishings, egg-shaped bathtubs, and modern amenities. Guests receive complimentary bottles of wine on arrival and a personal wine tasting with the winemaker. A 26-metre swimming pool overlooks the Devon Valley.

Sustainability is central to the operation. Aaldering is one of the ten most sustainable wineries in South Africa as certified by Enviro Wines, and holds full IPW (Integrated Production of Wine) accreditation. In just two decades, this Dutch couple's retirement project has become a destination where Old World hospitality meets New World winemaking — a vineyard where the dream of drinking your own wine became something far more ambitious.