Newstead Lund Family Vineyards

Doug and Sue Lund came from sugar and dairy farms in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2006 -- the same year the Plettenberg Bay Wine of Origin district was officially established -- they bought fallow land in The Crags on the Garden Route and planted vineyards of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. It was a bet on an entirely new wine region, hundreds of kilometres east of the traditional Cape Winelands, where maritime breezes off the Indian Ocean and cool coastal temperatures create growing conditions unlike anywhere else in South Africa.

The first vintage was released in 2012. From that moment, Newstead Lund Family Vineyards began collecting accolades that proved the Plettenberg Bay terroir was not just viable but exceptional. The wines earned multiple Gran d'Or medals at the Michelangelo Awards and a five-star rating from Platter's Wine Guide. In 2020, Newstead made history when it became the first wine estate outside the traditional Cape Winelands to win the Best Overall Producer Award at the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge -- a landmark moment for the Garden Route wine region.

Award-winning winemaker Anton Smal works with the estate's three varieties to produce a focused range: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rose, and both white and pink MCC sparkling wines. The Cap Classique programme is the jewel of the portfolio, with the Blanc de Blanc and Rose expressions earning consistent recognition at the International Wine and Spirit Competition, where Newstead has been ranked among South Africa's top three.

The estate is architecturally striking, designed to blend into the Garden Route landscape with views across vineyards, gardens, and the Tsitsikamma Mountains. The restaurant serves lunch, platters, high tea, and pizza with vegetarian options, making it a destination for all tastes. Luxury suite accommodation is available on-site, and the venue hosts weddings, events, and functions. The property is wheelchair accessible, family-friendly for ages 12 and up, and welcoming to solo travellers, couples, and large groups.

Newstead is open Wednesday to Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday. It is a place where the Lund family's conviction -- that great wine could be grown on the Garden Route -- has been proven in bottle after bottle.