Joostenberg Estate

Joostenberg is a fifth-generation family farm in the Muldersvlei district between Stellenbosch and Paarl, where the Myburgh family has practised traditional mixed farming since acquiring the property in 1879. For decades, the focus was on livestock, grain, and fruit rather than wine — the estate's last vintage before a long hiatus was produced in 1947. It took half a century and two brothers to change that.

In 1999, Philip and Tyrrel Myburgh revived winemaking at Joostenberg with a clear philosophy: farm organically, intervene minimally, and let the wines reflect their origin. By 2012, the estate had achieved full organic certification across all its vineyards, making Joostenberg one of the Cape's few genuinely certified organic producers. The brothers' approach extends beyond the vineyard — everything on the farm, from the free-range livestock to the herbs and seasonal vegetables, is grown with the same commitment to natural methods.

The wine range is focused and distinctive. Chenin Blanc is the anchor, sourced from old bush vines including a vineyard planted in 1982. Die Agteros Chenin Blanc, from the estate's oldest block, is a benchmark expression of Paarl Chenin. The red range centres on southern French and Portuguese varieties — Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache Noir, and Touriga Nacional — blended into the Family Blend Red. A Noble Late Harvest rounds out the range.

But Joostenberg is far more than a winery. The Myburgh family has built a thriving farm village around the estate. The Joostenberg Deli stocks fresh breads and pastries baked daily, home-cooked meals, desserts, and organic produce including free-range meats and eggs. A pork-specialist butchery supplies charcuterie and cuts from the farm's own livestock. The Kraal at Joostenberg serves as a bistro and events venue. Stellies Taproom adds craft beer to the offering. Seasonal cut flowers complete the picture of a genuine working farm that has diversified with integrity.

The wines carry the Wine of Origin Paarl designation and are enjoyed locally and internationally. The old bush vine Chenin Blanc, in particular, has earned a devoted following among critics and sommeliers drawn to its depth and textural complexity — qualities that come from decades-old vines and genuinely organic farming.

The visitor experience at Joostenberg feels authentic in a way that few wine farms manage. There is no grand Cape Dutch manor or manicured corporate tasting room — instead, you find a real family farm where the wine, food, and produce all come from the same soil. The organic certification is not a marketing exercise but a reflection of how the Myburghs have always farmed: carefully, sustainably, and with deep respect for the land that has sustained five generations.