The High Road Wines

The High Road began in 2003 as a passion project for Les Sweidan and Mike Church, two insurance industry professionals who shared an obsession with Bordeaux-style red wine. The premise was simple and deliberately narrow: produce elegant, structured Bordeaux blends from Stellenbosch fruit, and do nothing else. Two decades later, that singular focus has yielded one of the most decorated boutique red wine portfolios in South Africa.

The operation is based at a small urban cellar in Bosman's Crossing, Stellenbosch — not a sprawling estate with vineyard views, but a purpose-built facility where the winemaking team can exercise precise control over every variable. Consulting winemaker Miles Mossop, one of the Cape's most respected red wine specialists, has been involved with The High Road from the early vintages. Experienced winemaker Mark Carmichael-Green and viticulturist Paul Wallace complete the team, together sourcing and vinifying fruit from carefully selected Stellenbosch vineyards.

The flagship wine, the Director's Reserve, has established itself as one of South Africa's finest Bordeaux-style blends. At the 2023 Trophy Wine Show, the Director's Reserve 2019 swept three major awards: the Riedel Trophy for Best Bordeaux-style Red Blend of Show, the Vinolok Trophy for Best Premium Wine of Show, and the Investec Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show. It is a wine that stands comfortably alongside the best of Stellenbosch.

The Classique is the estate's signature accessible wine — a five-variety Bordeaux blend built around Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec contributing complexity. Soft, elegant tannins and fresh acidity are its hallmarks. The range also includes a single-varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for those who prefer their Stellenbosch red without the blending.

Tastings are available at the Bosman's Crossing cellar Monday to Friday by arrangement, offering a focused, intimate experience without the crowds of the larger estates. There is no restaurant or accommodation — The High Road invests everything in the wine itself. Free delivery is offered across South Africa on orders over R2,000, and the wines are available through the estate's online shop.

What makes The High Road compelling is its discipline. In a region where many estates diversify into hospitality, tourism, and lifestyle branding, Sweidan and Church have stayed resolutely in their lane: Bordeaux blends from Stellenbosch, made with care and scored with consistency. The results speak for themselves.