Stanford Hills Estate

On the southern slopes of the Kleinrivier Mountains, just outside the village of Stanford, lies an estate with a lineage that stretches back to the mid-nineteenth century. Stanford Hills Estate occupies the historic Weltevrede Farm, a property established in 1855 and once owned by Sir Robert Stanford, the entrepreneur after whom the village itself was named. Today it operates as a working wine farm, restaurant and accommodation destination in the heart of the Walker Bay wine region, an area increasingly recognised for producing some of the Cape's most expressive cool-climate wines.

The estate's modern winemaking identity has been shaped by Peter Kastner, whose philosophy is rooted in the belief that great wine is produced in the vineyard, not the cellar. All grapes are grown on the farm itself and picked by hand, ensuring that only the best fruit reaches the cellar — which, in characteristically unconventional fashion, occupies one half of a repurposed airplane hangar on the property. Kastner practises minimal interference winemaking, allowing the grapes to express their individual identity and the cool-climate terroir that defines the Walker Bay coast. The maritime influence of the nearby Atlantic moderates temperatures and extends the growing season, producing fruit with natural acidity and complexity.

In 2019, winemaker and viticulturist Mark Stephens joined the team, bringing a shared passion for producing wines with lower alcohol content and a fresher, more contemporary style. Together, Kastner and Stephens have built a portfolio that captures the essence of Stanford's maritime-influenced climate: a vibrant Sauvignon Blanc, an elegant Chardonnay, a dry Rose, and the red wines that have put the estate firmly on the map. The flagship Jacksons Pinotage is a celebrated expression of cool-climate winemaking, showcasing vibrant notes of red cherries, tomato leaf and plum with subtle hints of tobacco and dried fig developed through careful aging. A Shiraz, a Cape Blend and a Methode Cap Classique round out the range, offering breadth alongside the focused quality of the Jacksons label.

Beyond wine, Stanford Hills offers cottage accommodation on the working farm, bookable via Nightsbridge, making it an ideal base for exploring the Stanford Wine Route and the broader Walker Bay region. The on-site restaurant serves meals with sweeping views across the vineyards to the Kleinrivier Mountains, and cellar tours give visitors insight into the unconventional hangar-cellar and hands-on winemaking approach.

The estate is family-friendly and warmly welcomes dogs, a rarity in the Cape winelands that reflects the relaxed, unpretentious character of both the farm and the Stanford village itself. Tastings are priced at R90 per person. For visitors seeking cool-climate wines with genuine personality, made in a setting where nineteenth-century history and contemporary informality coexist comfortably, Stanford Hills delivers an experience that feels authentically Walker Bay.