Gabrielskloof Wine Estate

Gabrielskloof began with a leap of faith. In 2000, Bernhard Heyns identified Bot River as a promising but largely overlooked wine region and purchased a portion of the historic Avontuur farm. Vineyards were planted in 2002 on the rolling hills where the Overberg meets the sea, and what followed has been one of the most compelling estate-building stories in the modern Cape.

The appointment of Peter-Allan Finlayson as winemaker from the 2015 vintage transformed Gabrielskloof from a solid producer into one of South Africa's most exciting. Finlayson -- son of the legendary Peter Finlayson of Bouchard Finlayson, and founder of Crystallum -- married Bernhard's daughter Nicolene, making this a family affair in the deepest sense. He brought with him an obsessive focus on site expression, old-vine sourcing, and minimal intervention that elevated every tier of wine the estate produces. The wines began collecting serious critical attention almost immediately.

The Landscape Series, introduced in 2015, represents the pinnacle: five wines that combine the best of Gabrielskloof's own vineyards with old-vine treasures sourced from across the Cape. The Elodie, from four dryland untrellised Chenin Blanc vineyards, and the Magdalena, a white blend now anchored by old-vine Semillon from Franschhoek and Swartland, have both earned critical acclaim. The Syrah on Shale and Syrah on Sandstone demonstrate how two different soil types on the same estate can produce radically different expressions of a single variety. The Landscape Series Cabernet Franc rounds out a range of remarkable depth.

Below the Landscape Series, the Gabrielskloof Range -- The Blend, Whole Bunch Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Rosebud -- offers serious overdelivery at accessible prices. These are wines that introduce visitors to the estate's philosophy without requiring a collector's budget. The Whole Bunch Syrah, one hundred per cent whole-bunch fermented, is vibrant and pure with vivid aromas of violets, bramble, and black pepper.

The estate is a destination in its own right. The Kitchen Door restaurant, led by Chef Jen Ward, serves seasonal, fire-cooked farm food with vineyard hospitality that celebrates local ingredients. The 1910 Gabrielskloof Farm House, restored with period detail and set among the vineyards, offers three en-suite bedrooms for weekend getaways. Walking trails, hiking, picnics on the lawn, and vineyard tours complete the picture. Dogs are welcome, children are catered for, and the estate holds facilities for weddings, corporate events, and private functions.

With 473 reviews and a 4.6-star rating, Gabrielskloof has become one of the most visited estates in Walker Bay -- and one of the most respected.