Blaauwklippen Wine Estate – Stellenbosch Winery Since 1682

Blaauwklippen is one of South Africa's oldest wine estates, its history reaching back to 1682 when Gerrit Jansz Visscher received land from Governor Simon van der Stel. Visscher was a potter by trade, not a farmer, yet by 1688 he had planted a thousand vines on the Stellenbosch property. When French Huguenot Guillaume Niel purchased the farm in 1690, he named it De Blaauwe Klippen after the striking blue-grey granite outcrops that define the landscape. By 1709 the first official leaguer of wine -- 570 litres -- was recorded, and the estate's identity as a working winery was sealed.

The centuries that followed brought cycles of expansion and adversity. The Manor House was built in 1789, giant oaks were planted in 1770, and by 1825 the estate supported 70,000 vines. The phylloxera epidemic of 1886 devastated Cape vineyards, but Blaauwklippen proved resilient, still producing 50 leaguers that year. A darker period arrived in 1903 when teetotaller Pieter de Waal acquired the property and destroyed every vine, turning to tobacco and apples instead.

The modern renaissance began in 1972 when Graham Boonzaaier purchased the estate and commissioned extensive restoration and a new winery. Winemaker Walter Finlayson joined in 1975, won back-to-back Diners Club Winemaker of the Year awards, and made history by introducing Zinfandel grapes to South Africa in 1977. Blaauwklippen became a founding member of the Stellenbosch Wine Route in 1971 and launched South Africa's longest-running wine competition, the Blaauwklippen Blending Competition, in 1984.

A South African consortium acquired the estate in 2017, investing heavily in restoration: the Glass Cathedral wedding venue, five-star Manor House and Jonkershuis accommodation, a Farm Shop and Deli, and a mountain Bike Park. Tragedy struck in April 2024 when fire destroyed the Jonkershuis, Manor House, Glass Cathedral, and Millhouse, but the estate pressed on, with reopening of restored buildings planned for late 2025.

Today, winemaker Narina Cloete leads the cellar. A Stellenbosch University honours graduate in oenology, Cloete joined in 2016 and was crowned Woman Winemaker of the Year at the LUMO Awards. Under her stewardship the estate won Double Gold for its 2023 Chardonnay and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, and Gold for the 2022 Malbec and 2020 De Blaauwe Klip. Her range spans Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, a Bordeaux-style flagship called De Blaauwe Klip, MCC sparkling, Port, and even a botanical farm gin infused with juniper and eleven other ingredients.

The Tasting House offers three tiers of experience: Estate Tasting at R125, Summer Tasting at R140, and Premium Tasting at R165, which includes the flagship De Blaauwe Klip. De Blaauwe Kitchen serves Cape-Mediterranean cuisine, and food pairings range from the signature 1682 Pairing at R345 to pizza, arancini, chocolate, macaron, and cheesecake options. Every weekend the Blaauwklippen Family Market draws crowds for artisanal food, live music, and handmade goods beneath the estate's ancient oaks -- a Stellenbosch tradition since 2011.