Stofberg Family Vineyards

In the Breedekloof valley, where the Du Toitskloof mountains feed the Breede River with crystal-clear water, the Stofberg family has been farming since Corporal Jacobus Stofberg first set foot in Cape Town in 1763. Over more than two and a half centuries, the family grew into established grape growers in a valley renowned for some of the oldest soils in the world and one of the longest growing seasons in the Cape -- the so-called valley of the slow-ripening vines. The mountain ranges that surround the Breedekloof create a natural amphitheatre, trapping moderate temperatures that allow grapes to hang on the vine far longer than in warmer regions, developing layers of flavour that more hurried climates cannot match.

For generations the Stofbergs sold their fruit to cooperatives, their grapes disappearing anonymously into blends. It was Mariette Stofberg, the third-generation winemaker, who decided the family's exceptional grapes deserved their own label. Together with her husband Pieter, who manages the vineyards, she founded Le Belle Rebelle -- a boutique winery operating from the historic Ou Stokery building on the Old N1 Road near Rawsonville. Pieter has always believed that quality starts in the vineyard, and the vines are managed almost entirely by hand: suckering, leafing, tipping and harvest are all done manually, keeping to the concept of truly handcrafted wines.

Mariette crafts the wines herself, working with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Colombard, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Pinot Noir -- all grown exclusively on Stofberg Family Vineyards. The moderate Breedekloof climate, with its long ripening period, allows the grapes to develop deep complexity before harvest. The Intrepid Chenin Blanc and Butcher Bird Sauvignon Blanc have become the estate's most recognised bottlings, each named for aspects of the wild Breedekloof landscape. In 2015, the family added vintage brandy to their repertoire, followed by an African Dry Gin in 2016, expanding the tasting experience beyond wine alone. A CapeSecco sparkling Chenin Blanc made by the Charmat method rounds out the range.

The property's Ou Stokery (old distillery) building adds historic character to visits. The tasting room operates weekdays, offering an unhurried exploration of a range that spans fresh whites through structured reds and on into spirits. Le Belle Rebelle has earned international recognition, including listings on the Dutch specialist retailer Grandcruwijnen and entries in the IWSC. For visitors travelling the Breedekloof wine route between Worcester and the Rawsonville turn-off, this family-run estate offers an authentic encounter with one of the valley's oldest farming families -- a place where handcrafted wine is not a marketing phrase but a literal description of how every bottle is made.