Stony Brook Vineyards

The seeds of Stony Brook were sown in the late 1980s, when Nigel and Joy McNaught first crested the mountains into Franschhoek and fell in love with the valley. They began making wine from a small property, learning their craft and refining their ambitions over years of hands-on work. By the mid-1990s, the McNaughts realised that reaching the heights they dreamed of required a different stage.

In 1995, they made a bold move: selling their original farm to acquire a weathered old fruit farm tucked into a unique corner of the Franschhoek Valley. This became Stony Brook — a boutique estate where the family could finally focus on premium, small-batch winemaking. They replanted the entire farm to vines and built a small cellar, beginning with a core focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, and Chardonnay that reflected the styles of wine that excited them most.

Over the years, the portfolio expanded to include 14 grape varieties, but the philosophy remained unchanged: craft wines of terroir-driven character in small quantities, with an old-world sensibility that prizes structure and complexity over volume. The flagship Ghost Gum Cabernet Sauvignon has become one of Franschhoek's most celebrated reds, earning consistently high scores from critics including Greg Sherwood MW. The Max, a Bordeaux-style blend, represents the pinnacle of the estate. The Lyle Methode Cap Classique, an elegant sparkling wine, has won a devoted following.

In 2011, the next generation arrived when Craig McNaught joined his parents at the cellar and took over as winemaker. Craig has maintained the family's commitment to artisanal quality while bringing a fresh perspective to the portfolio, including single-varietal explorations and the Camissa range.

Stony Brook remains a true family operation — small, personal, and fiercely independent. There are no grand tasting halls or restaurant ventures here; this is a winery where every bottle is a conversation between the McNaught family and their Franschhoek terroir. Visitors taste in an intimate cellar setting that feels more like being welcomed into a family home than visiting a commercial operation. It is Franschhoek winemaking at its most authentic.