DaschBosch (uniWines Vineyards)

The story of DaschBosch begins in 1754, when the farmland was granted by Rijk Tulbagh, Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. Nearly three centuries later, the name has become an iconic Breedekloof wine brand steeped in heritage, honouring winemaking traditions and passions that stretch back to the earliest days of Cape viticulture.

DaschBosch is one of four producing cellars under the uniWines Vineyards group, alongside Goudini, Groot Eiland, and Nuwe Hoop. Together they farm approximately 3,000 hectares of vineyard across the Breedekloof Valley, making uniWines one of the region's largest wine-growing operations. The DaschBosch cellar, located on Louwshoek Voorsorg Road outside Rawsonville, focuses on premium-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of the Breede River Valley.

The wine portfolio is organised into three tiers. The Popular Premium Range serves as an introduction to the DaschBosch style, delivering popular varietals in a more serious, considered expression. The Heritage Range digs deeper into the estate's history, featuring wines from registered Old Vine Project vineyards, including the Mossiesdrift Steen Chenin Blanc from 58-year-old bush vines on the Mossiesdrift farm. The Experimental Range pushes boundaries with techniques like skin-contact Chenin Blanc and other innovative approaches.

Chenin Blanc is the star. The Breedekloof is one of South Africa's great Chenin Blanc regions, and DaschBosch's old-vine plantings on decomposed shale soils deliver wines of concentration and complexity. The Mossiesdrift Steen has earned strong reviews, including recognition from Decanter. Beyond Chenin, the range extends to Shiraz, Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a heritage Old Vine Hanepoot dessert wine.

The tasting experience takes place at the Sneeukop Wine Lounge, situated next to the Goudini Wine Cellar premises alongside the Smalblaar River on the edge of Rawsonville. This charming venue hosts tastings from four Breedekloof brands under the uniWines umbrella, with a tasting fee of R70 per person for six wines. The setting is picturesque, surrounded by the Du Toitskloof, Hex River, Slanghoek, and Langeberg Mountains. The cellar is open Monday to Thursday 09:00-17:00, Friday 09:00-16:00, and Saturday 10:00-14:00.

DaschBosch is also part of the broader Breedekloof Chenin Initiative, a collaborative effort among uniWines cellars to elevate the region's reputation as one of South Africa's premier Chenin Blanc appellations. The initiative brings together growers and winemakers to identify exceptional vineyard sites and develop wines that can compete at the highest level. For visitors exploring the Breedekloof, the Sneeukop Wine Lounge offers an excellent introduction to the valley's diversity, with DaschBosch's heritage wines standing as some of the most compelling examples of what this often-overlooked region can achieve.