Bartinney Private Cellar

High on the slopes of Botmaskop, where the Helshoogte Pass winds above the Banhoek Valley, Bartinney Wine Estate occupies one of the most dramatic vineyard sites in Stellenbosch. Vines cling to gradients as steep as 45 degrees at elevations reaching 550 metres above sea level -- among the highest plantings in the region. The estate's name has been associated with this land since 1912, and it has been in the Jordaan family since 1953.

Today, Rose and Michael Jordaan tend the 28-hectare farm with a vision that extends well beyond winemaking. Their philosophy holds that every aspect of the estate must work in harmony: agriculture with nature, people with animals, sustainability with excellence. Rose spearheaded a five-year environmental rehabilitation plan beginning in 2007 that transformed the property. Alien trees were removed, indigenous fynbos was restored, wildlife corridors were established, endemic cover crops were planted, and over 7,000 indigenous trees went into the ground. The results have been remarkable -- cape leopards, honey badgers, lynx and abundant birdlife now inhabit the estate. Bartinney has achieved Carbon Neutral status and is recognised as a Champion of Conservation.

Winemaker Ronell Wiid, who joined in 2011, brings more than three decades of experience and the distinction of being the only female winner of the Diners Club Winemaker of the Year title. Her focus is precise: Chardonnay from the cooler, elevated slopes where morning mists linger, and Cabernet Sauvignon from the deeper red soils on the slightly lower foothills. The Hourglass Chardonnay, a small-batch release from the oldest block planted in 1990, is limited to just 700 bottles per vintage. The Skyfall Cabernet Sauvignon -- a flagship blend of 75 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 per cent Petit Verdot, 5 per cent Merlot and 5 per cent Malbec -- represents the pinnacle of the estate's red winemaking.

The Elevage, a Bordeaux-style red blend named after the French art of selective maturation, carries a winged figure on its label symbolising a wine's ascension to its ultimate heights. The estate range also includes an unoaked Just Chardonnay and the flagship estate Cabernet Sauvignon, both expressing the mineral character of high-altitude Simonsberg slopes.

Tastings take place at The Tasting Shed, where visitors can experience the estate wines against a backdrop of sweeping valley views. The Wine and Fynbos Experience pairs wines with native botanicals grown on the farm, connecting the glass to the landscape. The Skyfall Trail offers a walking experience through the mountain vineyards. Accommodation is available on the estate, and a wine bar in Stellenbosch town extends the Bartinney experience beyond the farm gates.