Saxenburg Wine Estate

Saxenburg's story begins in 1693, when Governor Simon van der Stel granted land on the Polkadraai Road to Swedish settler Joachim Sax. By 1705, the estate was in the hands of Oloff and Albertus Bergh, also from Sweden, and the name Saxenburg — the fortress of Sax — emerged from these early winemaking pioneers. For nearly three centuries the farm changed hands, and by the late twentieth century the historic homestead had fallen into disrepair.

In 1989, Swiss-German couple Adrian and Birgit Buhrer purchased the dilapidated property and began a painstaking restoration. They rebuilt the Cape Dutch homestead, replanted the vineyards, and hired Nico van der Merwe as winemaker — a decision that would define Saxenburg's modern identity. Nico has now been at the helm for over twenty-five years, and his philosophy is characteristically understated: great wine is made more in the vineyards than in the cellar.

It was Cabernet Sauvignon that first put Saxenburg on the global map, winning the International Wine and Spirit Competition award in 2006. But the terroir on the Polkadraai slopes proved perfectly suited to Shiraz, and it is this varietal that has become the estate's defining contribution to South African wine. The flagship Shiraz Select uses only the top twenty percent of the vineyard yield, a deeply concentrated wine that commands serious attention. The Private Collection Syrah and Private Collection Pinotage round out a formidable red portfolio.

The Buhrers also had a playful side. In 1998, they added a game park to the estate — the first wildlife camp at a Stellenbosch wine farm — where zebras, springboks, ostriches, and fallow deer graze among the vineyards. The Guinea Fowl, the estate's most recognisable bird, lends its name to the accessible entry-level range: Guinea Fowl Red, Guinea Fowl Chenin Blanc, and Guinea Fowl White. A rondavel tasting room set within the game park allows visitors to taste wine while watching wildlife.

Today, Adrian and Birgit's children, Fiona and Vincent Buhrer, carry on the family legacy. The Guinea Fowl Restaurant serves seafood, grills, and its namesake dishes, while three Cape Dutch-style apartments offer overnight accommodation with views toward False Bay. The Hide Out lounge provides complimentary Wi-Fi and cheese platters in a relaxed setting. Guided cellar tours, vineyard walks, private tutored tastings, and winemaking workshops make Saxenburg a destination where heritage, wildlife, and serious winemaking converge on one of Stellenbosch's most historic slopes.