Cloof Wine Estate

The name Cloof is an old Dutch spelling of the Afrikaans word kloof, meaning a gorge or gap between two hills. The logo traces the contours of a ploughed hillside near Darling, a small West Coast town better known for wildflowers and Evita Bezuidenhout than for fine wine. But wine is exactly what has put Cloof on the map. The estate sits on more than 240 hectares of predominantly dryland bush vines, a vast holding in one of South Africa's most distinctive growing regions.

Cloof's oldest surviving vines were planted in 1966, with additional plantings in 1976 and 1987. For decades, these grapes were sold elsewhere. The winery was completed in 1998, and the first wine bottled under the Cloof label appeared in 1999 — the same period when the Darling region was beginning to attract attention from a new generation of winemakers drawn to its ancient soils, cool maritime breezes, and the honest character of its bush vine fruit. In 2003, Darling was officially declared a wine ward, recognising the unique quality that these conditions produced.

German-Belgian winemaker Christopher van Dieren joined in 2002 and has been the creative force behind Cloof's wines ever since. His approach leans into the personality of dryland bush vines: low-yielding, deep-rooted, and intensely flavoured. The estate's Pinotage, Shiraz, and Sauvignon Blanc form the backbone of the range, but it is the playful naming convention that makes Cloof instantly recognisable. The Very Sexy Shiraz, The Very Posh Pinotage, and The Dark Side are not gimmicks — they are well-made wines with a sense of humour, something that sets Cloof apart in an industry that can take itself too seriously.

The Signature Range represents the top tier, led by the Inkspot Viognier — a rare co-fermented blend — and single-vineyard expressions. The Winemaker's Range offers Christopher van Dieren's personal selections, while the Estate Range provides accessible everyday drinking sourced entirely from the farm's bush vines.

The tasting room sits in a converted cellar space, looking out across the vineyards. Food and wine pairings are offered, along with vineyard tours that take visitors through the bush vine blocks. Walking trails wind through the property for those who want to stretch their legs between tastings. There is a wine club for collectors, and an online shop ships nationally.

Cloof exports to more than 30 countries, yet it remains a family-owned, single-estate operation. Everything comes from these Darling bush vines — old, dry-farmed, and deeply rooted in the granite and shale soils that give Cloof wines their distinctive mineral character.