Walker Bay Vineyards and Birkenhead Brewery

The story of Walker Bay Estate begins not with wine but with beer. In 1998, the Sobey family founded Birkenhead Brewery on their farm outside Stanford, making it one of South Africa's very first craft breweries. The name was drawn from a piece of local maritime history: HMS Birkenhead, a British troopship that sank just a few kilometres down the coastline in 1852 in one of the most famous shipwrecks in naval history. The soldiers aboard famously stood fast while women and children were evacuated first -- an act of discipline that gave rise to the phrase "women and children first."

The brewery quickly established itself with a range of craft beers that became staples of the Overberg. The Lazy Leopard Premium Lager and Honey Blonde emerged as crowd favourites, and the brewery now produces six staple brews alongside seasonal specials. But the Sobey family's ambitions extended beyond beer.

In 2003, they planted vineyards on the estate and established Walker Bay Vineyards, recognising that the cool maritime climate of the Walker Bay ward -- with average summer temperatures of just 28 degrees Celsius, moderated by the cold Atlantic and cool southeasterly and southwesterly sea breezes -- was ideal for producing wines with high fruit flavours, natural acidity, and lower alcohol levels. The first wine was produced under the Walker Bay Vineyards label in 2007.

A landmark moment came in 2012, when the estate produced its first estate wine in a newly built state-of-the-art winery. The wine portfolio now includes Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Rose -- a broad range that takes full advantage of the cool-climate terroir.

The dual identity of brewery and winery gives Walker Bay Estate a distinctive character in the Cape Winelands. Visitors can taste both craft beer and estate wine in a single visit, an experience few South African properties can offer. The estate's restaurant serves contemporary South African cuisine with views of the Klein River mountains, and villa accommodation allows overnight stays.

The estate sits on the R326 between Stanford and Hermanus, open seven days a week from 10am to 7pm. Wine, beer, and cheese tastings run daily. With 1,244 Google reviews at a 4.2-star rating, Walker Bay Estate draws a broad audience -- from craft beer enthusiasts to wine collectors, from families on a Sunday outing to overnight guests exploring the Walker Bay coast. It is a working estate that refuses to choose between wine and beer, and is better for it.