Arendsig Hand Crafted Wines

In the southern foothills of the Robertson Wine Valley, where the Breede River carves through limestone-rich soils, Lourens van der Westhuizen became a first-generation winemaker on land his family had farmed for five generations. In 2004 he built a boutique cellar on the farm and began crafting single-vineyard wines under the Arendsig label -- the name meaning 'eagle's view' in Afrikaans, a reference to the Fish Eagles that nest along the nearby river.

Van der Westhuizen's path to winemaking was unconventional. After finishing school in Robertson, he studied agriculture at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, including time at Elsenburg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch, where exposure to vineyard practices and winemaking ignited his passion. Rather than following the conventional route of blending fruit from multiple sites, he committed to single-vineyard expression: each wine carries a block number on its label, identifying the exact vineyard parcel from which it was made.

The winemaking philosophy is resolutely minimal-intervention. All wines undergo spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts, no enzymes are added during vinification, and maturation takes place in neutral vessels to preserve the unique characteristics of each vineyard site. The approach has earned critical attention: wine writer Tim James has praised Arendsig as a standout in Robertson, and the Inspirational Batch series -- limited bottlings from exceptional parcels -- has gained a following among collectors who appreciate the purity and site-specificity of each release.

The range spans both white and red, with Chardonnay Block A15 and Cabernet Sauvignon Block A9 as the anchors. The 1987 Colombar, from a heritage vineyard planted nearly four decades ago, is a rare expression of old-vine character. The 1000 Vines Viognier, Grenache, Shiraz Block A12, and Pinotage Block A19 round out a focused portfolio of ten wines, all priced between R160 and R255.

Beyond wine, the farm has become a destination for those seeking tranquillity. Four self-catering cottages sit between the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards, just 100 metres from the Breede River -- a 155-kilometre drive from Cape Town. An Eco River Cabin offers an off-grid alternative. The venue hosts weddings and bespoke events against the backdrop of vineyards, river, and mountains. With a perfect 5.0-star Google rating from 43 reviews, Arendsig represents the intimate, handcrafted side of Robertson winemaking.