Vriesenhof Vineyards

In the sheltered Paradyskloof Valley on the western flanks of the Stellenbosch mountains, Vriesenhof Vineyards stands as a monument to one man's singular obsession with coaxing greatness from South African soil. Jan "Boland" Coetzee, who purchased the farm in 1980, is no ordinary winemaker. Before he ever planted a vine at Vriesenhof, he had already etched his name into two of South Africa's proudest traditions: rugby and wine. As a Springbok flanker who represented his country from 1974 to 1976, Coetzee brought the same fierce determination to the cellar that he once carried onto the pitch.

After studying Oenology and Viticulture at Stellenbosch University, Coetzee cut his teeth at Kanonkop, where he created the estate's first bottled wine. But it was the pull of his own land that proved irresistible. At Vriesenhof, he planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinotage, cultivating what would become one of the Paradyskloof's most respected vineyards. His first Vriesenhof vintage was released in 1981, but it was a formative period in Burgundy that truly shaped his winemaking philosophy. Returning from France with a deep reverence for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Coetzee set about the near-impossible task of mastering Pinot Noir in the South African climate.

In the mid-1990s, he planted his first Pinot Noir vines at Vriesenhof. It took nearly two decades of patient refinement — adjusting clonal selection, canopy management, and picking windows — before the variety reached what he describes as a kind of African perfection. Today, the Vriesenhof Pinot Noir is considered among the finest examples in the country, a testament to Coetzee's refusal to accept half-measures.

The estate's flagship red blend, the Kallista, showcases the best Bordeaux varieties from the property's oldest vines in a wine of depth and longevity. The Jan Boland Coetzee label — a Cabernet Franc-led blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon — pays direct tribute to the man himself. Grenache, sourced from old bush vines, adds a Rhone dimension to the portfolio, while a Grenache Rose and unwooded Chardonnay round out the range with freshness and accessibility.

Though still actively involved as cellarmaster, Coetzee now works closely with winemaker Nicky Claasens, passing on decades of accumulated vineyard wisdom. The Atlantic ocean breeze that filters through the Paradyskloof Valley throughout all seasons provides a natural cooling effect that gives Vriesenhof's wines their hallmark elegance and restraint. Tastings are available by appointment in the estate's intimate tasting room, where the wines are presented against the backdrop of the valley's spectacular mountain views. There is no rush at Vriesenhof. Like the man who built it, this is a place where patience is the most valued ingredient.