Annandale Wines

Annandale is the oldest winery in the Helderberg Valley, its history stretching back to 1679 when the land was first settled. In 1688, Governor Simon van der Stel granted the title to Jan Wismaar, and for more than a century the property was known as Brakelsdal. The name changed in the early 1800s when the owner fell in love with a girl from the Annan River Valley in Scotland and renamed the farm in her honour.

The modern chapter of Annandale begins with Gerhard 'Hempies' du Toit, a fifth-generation South African Huguenot winemaker who grew up on the neighbouring Alto Wine Estate where his father Piet served as cellarmaster from 1959 to 1983. Hempies learned to drive a tractor by the age of six and went on to press 25 vintages at Alto before pursuing his own path. He was also a formidable Springbok rugby player, earning five caps as a front-row forward for the national team -- an experience he credits with teaching him humility and resilience.

In September 1996, Hempies purchased Annandale from Miss Van Reenen, who had operated the property as a riding school and horse shelter for 48 years. The vineyards had long since disappeared, and Hempies spent the next five years planting 45 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. His winemaking philosophy is one of radical non-intervention: no commercial yeasts, minimal sulphur, and extended barrel ageing that can last six to eight years for some wines. The Key Merlot 2004, one of his most celebrated bottlings, spent a remarkable twelve years in barrel before release.

The results speak quietly but powerfully. Annandale's Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve carries the name 'Hempies du Toit' on the label -- a rare personal stamp in South African wine. The estate also produces Shiraz, the Familier Cabernet Franc, and CVP, a Cape Vintage Port. Tastings are offered Monday to Saturday at R80 to R120 per person in an intimate cellar setting that reflects the estate's rustic, family-owned character. The views from the tasting room stretch across the valley, and the atmosphere is unhurried -- Hempies himself often pours for visitors who make the short drive down Annandale Road from Stellenbosch town.