De Wet Kelder / Cellar

On 15 April 1946, a group of Worcester-area grape farmers pooled their resources to create what would become the oldest wine cellar in the district. De Wet Cellar, named after the farming community it served, began as a modest cooperative processing around 3,000 tons of grapes annually. Nearly eight decades later, it has grown into one of the Breedekloof region's most significant wine operations, handling approximately 21,000 tons each year while maintaining a commitment to quality that has earned it consistent recognition at national and international competitions.

The cellar sits just off the N1 highway north of Worcester, in the heart of the Breedekloof Valley where the Hex River Mountains shelter vineyards from harsh southeasterly winds and the Breede River provides the irrigation water that sustains agriculture in this semi-arid landscape. The terroir here is characterised by warm days, cool nights and diverse soils ranging from alluvial deposits along the river to decomposed shale on the higher slopes — conditions that produce grapes with concentrated flavour and the natural acidity that has made Worcester a quietly respected wine-growing district.

Winemaker Phillip Vercuiel has guided the cellar's quality programme for over a decade, with a particular talent for drawing the best from the region's signature Chenin Blanc. The De Wet Chenin Blanc has won multiple Veritas Double Gold medals, establishing the cellar as one of the country's benchmark producers of this quintessentially South African variety. Alongside Chenin Blanc, the cellar produces Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinotage and Pinot Noir — a breadth of offering that reflects the diversity of the Breedekloof terroir.

The modern wine range reflects a balance between heritage and innovation. The flagship Leyland label carries the cellar's premium single-varietal wines, while the Vintage Mashup range experiments with unconventional blends — Shiraz with Pinotage and Durif, Chardonnay with Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc with Chenin Blanc and Semillon. These are not blends born of tradition but of creative ambition, designed to show what happens when familiar grapes are combined in unfamiliar ways. A Vintage Mashup and Chocolate Pairing experience at R65 pairs three of these wines with artisanal chocolates from The Chocolatier, adding a playful and memorable tasting dimension.

De Wet Cellar also plays a significant role in South African wine exports as a major shareholder in First Cape Vineyards, one of the country's leading exporters to UK supermarkets. The modern tasting lounge and venue space welcome visitors for tastings, events and functions, and the cellar operates a gift shop stocking wines and local produce. Open Monday to Friday with Saturday morning hours, it provides a welcoming gateway to the Worcester wine route. For visitors travelling the N1 between Cape Town and the interior, De Wet Cellar offers a convenient and rewarding stop — a place where cooperative winemaking heritage meets modern quality ambition, and where a cellar founded by humble farmers has grown into something genuinely remarkable.