Bertha Wines

Below the jagged peaks of the Stellenbosch mountains, on the south-facing slopes cooled by Atlantic breezes from Table Bay, stands Weltevreden 1692 — one of the oldest and most historically significant farms in the Cape Winelands. Granted in the seventeenth century, the property passed through the hands of the Badenhorst, Retief, Smith, Peel, and Bezuidenhout families across more than three hundred years. Its Cape Dutch homestead is a National Heritage Monument, representing the pinnacle of new-classical Cape Dutch architecture. By the early 2000s, however, the estate had fallen into disrepair.

In 2012, André Bezuidenhout purchased the dilapidated property and began a meticulous restoration. The homestead, outbuildings, and grounds were returned to their former glory, and the family turned their attention to the vines on Weltevreden's prime south-facing slopes. The bespoke range of wines they created was named Bertha — a tribute to the Bezuidenhout family matriarch, a woman remembered for her unbeatable resilience, creative spirit, and uncanny resourcefulness.

Bertha Wines is deliberately focused. The portfolio offers just four wines, each chosen for its popularity and food-pairing appeal: a Sauvignon Blanc, a Sémillon, a Rosé, and a Shiraz. The winemaking takes advantage of the south-facing aspect and cool maritime influence, with grapes hand-harvested in the early morning and brought into the cellar as cool as possible to preserve fresh fruit character. The result is a collection of easy-drinking, accessible wines that are bright, food-friendly, and limited in volume.

Weltevreden sits just outside Stellenbosch on the R44, a corridor rich with wine history but few estates that can match this property's archival significance. The Cape Dutch gables, the thick whitewashed walls, the proportions of the homestead — all speak to an era when architecture was built to last centuries.

The tasting experience at Weltevreden 1692 is set against the backdrop of the restored heritage buildings and mountain views. For R80 per person, visitors taste through the Bertha range while learning the stories of the families who shaped the property over three centuries. A bottle purchase earns a refund on one tasting fee, a generous touch that reflects the Bezuidenhouts' welcoming approach.

The wines themselves reflect the Bezuidenhout family's philosophy of approachability without compromise. The Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and mineral, the Sémillon richly textured, the Rosé bright and refreshing, and the Shiraz dark-fruited with a savoury finish. Each is made in limited quantities, reinforcing the estate's boutique character.

Bertha is not trying to be everything to everyone. It is a small, carefully curated wine project on a grand historic stage — bold, bright, and unapologetically personal, much like the woman it is named after.